نمايشنامه هاي انگليسي Antigone

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Creon tells Antigone that no Theban supports her, but Antigone rebukes him by asserting that they do support her, but “curb their voices” due to Creon’s absolute power. Creon asks Antigone whether she is not ashamed to be the only one to break the law. Antigone responds by saying that her sisterly piety bears no trace of shame. Creon asks Antigone if her actions have been harmful to the memory of her other brother, Eteocles. He tells Antigone that Polynices was a vile traitor who had come to destroy Thebes. Antigone respects her brothers equally. “Death knows no difference,” she says.
Creon maintains that enemies must be hated even if they are dead. Antigone, for her part, has faith in the power of love and not hatred. Creon then sentences her to death and asserts that he will not be ruled by a woman

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Notes
This is the first major agon (debate, or dramatic conflict) in the play between the two main characters, Antigone and Creon. Creon tries to subdue Antigone by proclaiming that she has broken “the published law.” But Antigone is not to be defeated. She is morally correct and she uses this fact to her advantage. Antigone quite sensibly believes in following Heaven’s laws and not those laid down by mortals like Creon. The laws of Heaven are “infallible” for her, as they have existed from the beginning of time. Creon’s law, on the other hand, is but “newly-born,” as Antigone points out. For Antigone, the established laws of Heaven have been tried and proven to be correct.
Antigone holds that death will not bring her as much sorrow as the fact that her brother’s body lies unburied. Her fierce pride and loyalty to family are evident in this scene. The Chorus is the first to observe this: “Fierce shows the maiden’s vein from her fierce sire;/ Calamity doth not subdue her will.”

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The Chorus notes that Antigone’s traits have come down to her from her father, King Oedipus. Despite Antigone’s fierce resolve in the face of calamity, Creon is confident that he will be able to break her spirit. He accuses her of being insolent and shameless. His insecurity is evident: her defiance is a threat to his status as a king, and so he must destroy her, even though she is his sister’s child. Creon tries to detract from the fact that Antigone’s action is an honorable one by claiming that Antigone and Ismene had entered into a conspiracy against the state. Antigone, on the other hand, maintains that she has performed a glorious deed.

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The entire debate is an attempt by Creon to demoralize Antigone. He tries to prove that she is wrong so that he can gain the upper hand in his attempt to win over the people of Thebes. He asks Antigone whether she has not betrayed the memory of Eteocles (the brother who had refused to give up the throne of Thebes). Unlike Creon, who supported Eteocles because it was politically expedient for him to do so, Antigone treats both her brothers as equals. She does not accept Creon’s argument that Polynices was a traitor who came to destroy Thebes. For Creon, Polynices is the wicked brother, hated even in death; but Antigone adheres to the law of love and is not consumed by hatred for anyone. She makes a powerful and telling statement: “Death knows no difference, but demands his due.”
At the end of the scene Creon has lost his composure and states that he will never allow himself to be ruled by a woman. This scene is the climactic point: it demonstrates the clash between Creon’s world of power and Antigone’s world of ideals. Antigone is resolute to the end and thoroughly enrages King Creon.

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Lines 524-582
Creon, Ismene and Antigone
Summary
The Chorus announces the arrival of Ismene, in tears and full of anxiety. Creon describes Ismene as “a serpent coiled in the house” and a subverter of his throne. He asks her whether she will acknowledge her role in the burial of Polynices’ body.
Ismene falsely admits to being a partner in crime with Antigone. Ismene wishes to bear her part of the blame. Antigone, however, denies that Ismene played any part in the burial. Ismene wishes to go with her sister to her death, but Antigone forbids her to do so. Antigone asserts that she has done the deed alone and that she does not need this verbal support from her sister. Ismene is hurt as she feels that Antigone is now scorning her.

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Ismene laments that she has no joy left in life, but Antigone tells her to save herself. Ismene had earlier chosen life over death when Antigone first revealed to her the secret burial plan. Antigone observes that her life, too, has long been spent in the service of the dead.
Creon upbraids Ismene for taking leave of her senses. He forbids her from addressing Antigone as her sister, for Antigone is “nothing now.” Ismene asks Creon whether he intends to kill his son’s (Haemon’s) betrothed. Creon replies by saying that Haemon “may find other fields to plough upon.” He remarks that Antigone would make a “wicked consort,” not worthy of Haemon. He resolves that “death must come” between Haemon and “his joy.” He orders that Antigone and Ismene be taken away and locked up. It is now settled that Antigone must die.

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Notes
This scene includes a debate between Antigone and Ismene. Ismene wishes to claim a part in the deed so that she will be able to share the fatal pument with her sister. But Antigone is unwilling to share with her sister the honor she will receive for burying her brother in defiance of Creon’s law.
Besides, Antigone reminds Ismene that she (Ismene) has already chosen life over death. One may recall that in the opening scene of the play, Antigone had requested Ismene to join her in burying their brother, but Ismene had refused to do so. At that time, Ismene was afraid that Creon would punish them with death if they were caught

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In the present scene, however, Ismene shows some dignity and nobility. Although she has not been an accomplice in the deed, she is now willing to accept death with her sister. Ismene makes a noble offer, but Antigone rejects it. Ismene believes that Antigone is now scorning her because she (Ismene) had earlier refused to help Antigone with the burial plan. It is true that Antigone does not want Ismene to share her glory in dying for her brother; however, Antigone also wants Ismene to live. She tells Ismene: “Life was the choice you made. Mine was to die.”
Again, as in the first scene, the question of choice or free will arises. Antigone chose freely to break the law, for which she knew she would be punished, whereas Ismene chose to live by the laws of the land. Therefore, Ismene has not acquired the right to die at this point. For Antigone, facing death (even as a “criminal”) is a gift from the gods, a release from earthly sorrows. Ismene displays the extent of her sisterly affection in this scene.

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When Creon observes the two sisters quarreling over whether Ismene should die with Antigone or not, he naturally concludes that these two have lost their minds. In any case it is not up to the sisters to decide whether Ismene should be accused or not; that is Creon’s prerogative. Creon has already decided that Antigone must die, even though she is engaged to his son, Haemon. He does not care that he will be causing great pain to Haemon. Creon is still unsure of whether Ismene should be punished, although he is certain that Ismene has played her part in the burial by being a silent supporter of Antigone’s cause

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Lines 583-623
The Second Stasimon
The Chorus: “Blest is the life that never tasted woe.”
Summary
The Chorus now sings a song of woe which forms a prelude to the final scenes of tragedy which are to follow. They state that the person who has never suffered pain and anguish in his/her life is indeed blessed. The Chorus remarks that when a house (here meaning “family”) has undergone its first tragedy, then troubles come upon it in ever-increasing numbers. Deeper and darker tragedies soon ensue in the manner of the storms that arise near Thrace and disrupt land and sea.
The descendants of Cadmus, according to the Chorus, have suffered terrible calamities in quick succession. Fresh sorrows have distressed each new ruler of Thebes upon ascending the throne. Even the most recent “smiling light” of Thebes has been extinguished. The Chorus believes that the gods have been ruthless in reducing the powerful Cadmus dynasty to ashes.