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Antigone: Background
David Smith
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Transcript
Antigone: Background by Sophocles
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Sophocles (496–406 B.C.) came from a wealthy family in Athens and took an active role in that city-state's political life. He wrote 123 plays, but only seven of them have survived to the present. Antigone was a huge success for him at the dramatic festivals held in Athens. Ancient texts reveal that he was elected a general in the Athenian military because of the popularity of this work.
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from Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them(Vol. 1)
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One source has Oedipus commending his children into the care of his mother's brother Creon; another of Sophocles' plays has Antigone faithfully accompanying Oedipus into exile, as his attendant. Oedipus later died. Creon, who had subsequently assumed the throne of Thebes as regent until Oedipus' two sons should grow up, is now king in his own right.
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from Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them(Vol. 1)
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These two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, had been cursed by their father because they had twice insulted him. The curse included a prophecy that the boys would grow up to kill each other. Upon reaching adulthood, Eteocles and Polynices fought over their inheritance; they had agreed to alternate the kingship, but, once in power, Eteocles refused to give up the throne.
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from Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them(Vol. 1)
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Polynices left Thebes in anger and married into the royal family of Argos. In Argos he assembled an army and attacked the city of his birth. The seven gates of Thebes were assailed by seven heroes, one of whom was Polynices himself. All seven heroes died during the siege. Polynices died at the hands of his brother, who was mortally wounded during the struggle as well. Oedipus's prophecy was thus fulfilled.
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from Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them(Vol. 1)
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Sophocles's play begins with Antigone and Ismene, who were sisters of the recently deceased Polynices and Eteocles. Antigone, obviously distressed, reveals to Ismene the latest news: because Polynices has been fighting against the city of his birth, King Creon has now forbidden anyone to touch the corpse or give it a decent burial.
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from Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them(Vol. 1)