You've now finished Antigone written by playwright Sophocles. Answer the following questions in paragraph form:
1) Why did Sophocles strategically place the Paean between Scene 5 and the Exodos? Add supporting details.
2) Irony "rules" in Scene 5. Explain!
3) In your opinion, what is significant about the Exodos? Be sure to include convincing details from this play, including evidence from Scene 5.
Teiresias enters as a blind man with a lock step, as "two eyes of one"> metaphorically speaking as Teiresias enters with a little boy
ReplyDelete"As you say it is not my place to challenge a prophet" scene 5; line 59, Creon speaks to Teiresias therefore the irony spikes when Creon says he shall not challenge a prophet when Teiresias is a prophet. Due to the heir of Creon, it was only the result of Creon becoming a king because of the prophet Teiresias. In which he had discovered the death of Oedipus and his father. From Creon’s perspective, his thoughts are that Teiresias is only there to gather money. Creon responds to this by saying that the generations of prophets has always loved gold, and Teiresias responds to that the kings has always loved brass. Referring to “brass”, brass is very cheap and metaphorically it can be described to as weak, in which Teiresias refers to the kings of being “weak”. That can impact to the ruling of Creon.
The significance of the Exodos mainly surrounds Creon’s change of political positions. Creon learns of the wrong that he has done and openly admits it to Choragos. When Creon said, “I alone am guilty . . . I have killed my son and wife” (792:121,135) it shows that Creon will be a better ruler if he decides to stay. By admitting his guilt shows the needed change Thebes needed at this time. Compared to scene five, this new Creon shows the open and willingness to accept opposing views. In scene five, Creon refused to listen to Teiresias’ prophecy since it means giving up his thrown.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that makes the Exodus significant is that Creon finally feels that he has done wrong. On page 792, line 121, Creon says, “ It is right that it should be. I alone am guilty.” He feels this way because there were so many tragic deaths that have happened in his family due to him. His wife, Antigone, and Haimon are dead due to his actions. On page 792, a line 139-142, the Choragos ends with explaining, “proud men in old age learn to be wise.” This could relate Creon finally becoming a wiser person after going through all of the deaths. I actually think that Creon will become a better king, but it is a little too late. All of the damage has been done to his family, and it will scar him forever.
ReplyDeleteSophocles strategically placed the Paean between Scene 5 and the Exodus because he wanted to let the reader and the audience to know that Creon is going to suffer many tortuous things because the Paean states, “God of many names” and this could lead to Dionysos being able to do whatever he wants to Creon (786:1). I think the reason why Dionysos is in the Paean is that he can do a lot of damage when he wants to. So when he hears about Creon he might torture him with many things. He puts the Paean before the Exodus because the Paean is a good thing to be informed about before studying the Exodus.
ReplyDeleteSophocles strategically placed the Pean between Scene 5 to inform us about the different stories within the stories. Through the Paean we learn Eleusis is the site of the secret religious festival honoring the two great gods of the earth’s bounty. We were also informed that the city of Thebes was viewed as a priestess and the city’s founding from dragon teeth. Knowing this historical background of Thebes gives the reader more understanding, compassion, and a way to connect with Sophocles early western traditional literature.
ReplyDeleteIrony rules in Scene 5 because of the big argument between Creon and Teiresias. When Creon and Teiresias were fighting, the anger between the two became more apparent when Teiresias told Creon news that he didn’t like. After receiving the news Creon challenged the prophet which resulted in the constant use of irony.
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