Episode 1 Flashcards
Creon brings good news
the ship of state is safe after being rocked by the gods in storm
Why has he assembled them
I have called you here alone (mimics scene with Antigone and Ismene)
Your loyalty has been unshakable you have stood by the children of Oedipus and Jocasta
Creon assumes power
“I am next in kin to the dead”(highly prophetic)
I possess the throne and all its powers
How can you truly know what a man is like
you cannot know a man completely, his character, principles, judgement.
until he has shown his colours by ruling and making laws (he will show his)
He has dignity in the way he plans on ruling
Who assumes the “awesome task” of setting the city on course but refuses to adopt the soundest policies is utterly worthless (Creon is a good ruler, realises what he must do)
Creon stresses the importance of country
Who ever places a friend above the good of his country is nothing (greeks would approve)
I could never be a friend to someone who menaces our country, our country is our safety
Only while she voyages true on course can friendships be established
Creon talks about the brothers
and what he has decreed for them.
Polynices is made to seem truly evil
Creon, the Ancient Greek means “brother to them” but he is disregarding family, makes it more shocking,
Eteocles, fighting for Thebes, will be buried , crowned with a hero’s honours
Polynices was consumed with the one desire to burn from roof to roots his father-city and the gods of his race. He thirsted to drink his kinsman’s blood and sell the rest to slavery (truly he has sinned)
Unburied, his body must be left as carrion for the birds, an obscenity.
the traitor will never be honored above the patriot (but he was never going to be)
How does the Leader see Polynices
he was our city’s enemy and our friend
The Leader accepts Creon’s judgement
If treating him this way is your pleasure, the power to enforce these laws on the living and the dead is yours (they forget the gods,many forget that they have power too)
Creon: don’t break my orders Leader is afraid of him
Leader: Never. Only a fool could be in love with death (scared of him, don’t have courage, opposite to Antigone)
Creon describes the penalty for betraying his orders, why might someone betray him
Death is the price-you’re right (very cold)
But often the mere hope of money has ruined men
Sentry arrives reluctantly
I’m not winded from running, or set out with a spring in my leg
Confusion created: “Made me stop, often, dead in my tracks, wheeling, turning back” the thought that he’s going to his death (not telling of a death and not seeking a reward)
Why did the Sentry come
If someon got the news to Creon first that would be worse
dragging my feet,
One hope: “what will come will come, whatever fate”
Sentry tries to protect himself
He didn’t do it and didn’t see who did it, “be fair” don’t fake it out on me
whats happened to the body
someone’s buried it and run off (no specifics, mysterious, but we know who did)
Creon is shocked
-What man alive would dare
Sentry’s description, mysterious
The workman left no trace, nothing
At sunup the first watch pointed it out
Keeps adding detail: it’s not buried just a light cover of road- dust on it “as if someone meant to lay the dead to rest and keep from getting cursed” (seems to try and mitigate the crime and suggests it’s a good thing, necessity of a burial)
the body is unspoilt
no sign of beast worrying the body and tearing the skin (protected by the gods? Ambrosia?)
Trying to scare Creon with the thought that it may be a gods which disagree with Creon’s law?
the guards argued and resolved
we began to argue, ready to take up red-hot iron in our fists, go through fire (ready to prove their innocence, traditional hyperbolic assertion of truthfulness, trial by ordeal)
“I had no hand in the plotting not in the work itself” (implies he’s glad it happened though)
It was suggested that Creon must be told
Unlucky as ever, I got the prize
What does the leader suggest
could this possibly the work of the gods
Creon dismisses the possibility of gods
dismissive, “gods!” “Must you be insane”
It’s intolerable to say that the gods could have the slightest concern for that corpse.
He caMe to burn their temples and fling their laws to the wind (Creon does not realise this is what he’s transgressing)
When did you last see the gods celebrating traitors (he doesn’t realise that this is not the issue, they aren’t celebrating them, but this is a law beyond their pride, and should be beyond his to)
Who does Creon believe it was
no there were certain citizens who did not loyally submit to their king, I’m convinced these are the instigators, perverted my own guard and bribed them to do their work (so just doing it to irritate Creon, thinks it’s a direct attack without realising how ridiculous that is)
Creon’s speech about money
Money! Nothing worse, so corrupting. Twist good minds and set them on the most atrocious schemes
Make them adept at every outrage, every godless crime (him)
The whole crew bribed to commit this crime
The messenger’s punishment if the perpetrator is not found
“I swear to Zeus as I still believe in Zeus”
If the very perpetrator is not found
You will be strung up alive, the immorality will be wrung out of you
Sentry on judgement
“It’s terrible when the one who does the judging judges thing all wrong” (Zeus should be the judge)
Sentry swears to never come back
As Creon leaves
- “I’ll never come back, I’m saved, I never hoped, dear gods, I owe you all my thanks”
