Conflict

Question 1

What is conflict in the classical world

Answer 1

• Conflcit can take form in classical literature: verbal, moral, emotional, physical
• Many of the characters within a play are involved in some sort of conflict. All textes involve some knid of conflict whether it is among different characters or ideas
• There were many phsyical conflicts in the ancient world such as battles and wars. The play Antigone is set in the aftermath of a civil war between the brothers Polynices and Eteocles
• The Athenians would have known conflict in their daily lives aas they were often at battle with the member states of the Delian League and Sparta

Question 2

Antigone and Creon: Conflict of principles

Answer 2

• creon is asserting his authority as king and trying to keep his city safe
• antigone is defending her brothers honour and upholding the sacred rites of the gods (the unwritten law)
• antigone defies creon and is punsihed for refusing to obey the laws of the state
• creaon suffers for not follwoing the natural law

Question 3

Antigone and Ismene: Conflcit of roles

Answer 3

• ismene believes that their role as women prevents antigone from standing up agsiant creon
• antigone is angry with ismene for not follwoing the scared laws of the gods and for not bruing her brother
• eventually ismene tries to side with antigone but antigone tells her it is too late and they end of bitter terms

Question 4

Creon and the State

Answer 4

• creon believes he is defending the state by outlawing the burial of polynices
• however antigone and haemon both suggest that many people in the city are in oppostiion to creons decision as it will anger the gods and ultimatly have a negative effect on the city

Question 5

Creaon and Heamon

Answer 5

• haemon is engaged to antigone, probablt through his fathers actions
• haemon tries to kill creon when he finds antigone dead
• haemon falls on his own sword lunging at his father
• the conflict results in the death of haemon and eventually Eurydice

Question 6

Oedipus vs Other characters

Answer 6

• oedipus comes into conflict with creon - he accuses him of being the murderer of laius and trying to take the crown
• oedipus comes into conflict with tireisas-oedipus summons tiresias for his advice, then rejects him when the advice does not suit oedipus - this is also conflict with the will of the gods
• oedipus comes into conflict with jocasta - he accuses her of being embarassed by his ‘humble roots’ - this is when jocasta has figured out who oedipus is and oedipus has not

Question 7

Oedipus in conflict with himself

Answer 7

• oedipus is driven by pride - he wants to find out who the murder of laius is and protect the city
• he refuses to beliv that he is his fathers killer
• he pushes so hard wnating to know about the murderer, agasint all adive (Tiresias, Jocasta) that he under no uncertain terms that he has married his mother and killed his father
• the inner conflict forces him into blindness, exile and an emotional release of all the pent up problems caused by his pride