ANTIGONE in ‘Antigone’
FEMALE/YOUNG/SISTER TO ISMENE,POLYNICES,ETEOCLES/DAUGTHER OF OEDIPUS/NIECE OF CREON
- She defies King Creon’s decree and carries out the burial of her brother Polynices
- Creon finds out and Antigone has a confrontation with him in which she does not apologise for her
actions but persists to offend Creon by attacking his ego
- Creon decides to punish Antigone by burying her alive in a tomb
CHARACTERISTICS
Loving/Sincere: “My own flesh and blood- dear sister, dear Ismene,”
Defiant: “Will you lift up his body with these bare hands and lower it with me?”
Proud: “I did it. I don’t deny a thing”
Antagonistic: “Not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride”
Honourable: “All my reverence, my reverence for the gods!”
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Wears an orange peplos to contrast from the most feminine Greek colour yellow
Wears a black peplos in her final appearance in the kommos
Brown dishevelled hair contrast to her blonde sister
Taller than Ismene, a wider build too – not conventionally attractive
Dirt make-up after second burial, in Second Epeisodion
FUNCTION
♦ Antigone’s function within the play is to defy the Ancient Greek feminine ideal
♦ She acts as a foil to her passive, submissive sister Ismene
♦ Antigone’s function is to honour the God’s
ANTIGONE’S JOURNEY
Prologue – Antigone has met Ismene outside the palace gates to discuss Creon’s
edict. Antigone asks for her sisters help in burying their dead brother, Polynices,
despite the act being against Creon’s decree. Ismene refuses so Antigone does it
alone.
Second Epeisodion – The Sentry brings Antigone back to the palace, proudly claiming
she was the offender. Creon interrogates Antigone and she proudly explains she
FEMALE/YOUNG/SISTER TO ISMENE,POLYNICES,ETEOCLES/DAUGTHER OF OEDIPUS/NIECE OF CREON
- She defies King Creon’s decree and carries out the burial of her brother Polynices
- Creon finds out and Antigone has a confrontation with him in which she does not apologise for her
actions but persists to offend Creon by attacking his ego
- Creon decides to punish Antigone by burying her alive in a tomb
CHARACTERISTICS
Loving/Sincere: “My own flesh and blood- dear sister, dear Ismene,”
Defiant: “Will you lift up his body with these bare hands and lower it with me?”
Proud: “I did it. I don’t deny a thing”
Antagonistic: “Not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride”
Honourable: “All my reverence, my reverence for the gods!”
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Wears an orange peplos to contrast from the most feminine Greek colour yellow
Wears a black peplos in her final appearance in the kommos
Brown dishevelled hair contrast to her blonde sister
Taller than Ismene, a wider build too – not conventionally attractive
Dirt make-up after second burial, in Second Epeisodion
FUNCTION
♦ Antigone’s function within the play is to defy the Ancient Greek feminine ideal
♦ She acts as a foil to her passive, submissive sister Ismene
♦ Antigone’s function is to honour the God’s
ANTIGONE’S JOURNEY
Prologue – Antigone has met Ismene outside the palace gates to discuss Creon’s
edict. Antigone asks for her sisters help in burying their dead brother, Polynices,
despite the act being against Creon’s decree. Ismene refuses so Antigone does it
alone.
Second Epeisodion – The Sentry brings Antigone back to the palace, proudly claiming
she was the offender. Creon interrogates Antigone and she proudly explains she
