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Antigone journal

 

            The chorus in Antigone acted as a death messenger, narrated different characters= entrances, gave advice to certain characters like Antigone and Creon, and set a mood for the scene. The chorus acted as a death messenger when it predicted Antigone=s death in the ode after Haemon and Creon argued over Antigone=s act of burying Polynices. .
             A.I see Antigone make her way.
             to the bridal vault where all are laid to rest@ (898-899).
             The chorus informed the audience that Antigone was coming and explained that she was being forced to walk towards her death sentence. The chorus narrated the expression of Ismene=s face when she entered the scene after Antigone admitted to burying Polynices. .
             ALook,.
             Ismene=s coming, weeping a sister=s tears,.
             loving sister, under a cloud . . . .
             Her face is flushed, her cheeks streaming.
             Sorrow puts her lovely radiance in the dark@ (593-597).
             The chorus expressed Ismene=s emotions of sorrow and grief through its melancholy phrases. Ismene=s sorrowful entrance foretold more bad news that was about to be shared in the scene. The chorus gave advice to Creon when it helped Creon decide to free Antigone from the cave and bury Polynices. .
             ABut good advice,.
             Creon, take it now, you must@ (1221-1222).
             AGo! Free the girl from the rocky .
             vault and raise a mound for the body you exposed@ (1224-1225).
             .
             The chorus was referring to the advice from Tiresias= prophecies. Creon could not decide whether to listen to Tiresias or to not go back on his word. Creon asked the chorus for help and the chorus told Creon to free Antigone from the cave and bury Polynices= body. Finally, the chorus set the mood for the upcoming scene. .
             .
             ABut now, even I would rebel against the king,.
             I would break all bounds when I see this - .
             I fill with tears, I cannot hold them back,.
             not anymore,.I see Antigone make her way.
             to the bridal vault where all are laid to rest@ (895-899).
             The last stanza of the ode after Creon decided to trap Antigone inside a cave as her punishment suggested that the next scene of Antigone being forced to her death would be very depressing.


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