Essay And 10 Marker Flashcards
What does the theme of women mean in the ancient world?
- women feature in lots of classical literature but they are usually not depicted in the best light
- many women are shown as the catalyst for disaster for standing against male authority
- ancient women were often considered subordinate to men
- women in Athens had no political power or voice
- women in Ancient Greece were treated as objects like when they are involved in arranged marriages
- characters of Antigone and ismane explore the themes of the position of women in society though their actions and their consequences.
What does the theme of conflict mean in the ancient world?
-Conflict can take many forms in classical literature: verbal, moral, emotional and physical.
-many of the characters within a play are involved in some sort of conflict. All texts involve conflict, whether that is between ideas or characters
- the ancient world is full of physical conflicts such as wars and battles. For example, Antigone is set in the aftermath of a civil war between Eteocles and polynices.
- the Athenians would have known conflict in their daily lives as they were often fighting with the Delian league or Sparta.
How does Antigone follow her traditional role as a woman?
- She has a sense of duty to her family (she wants to bury her brother which is also a responsibility of women)
- she has a strong sense of faith and shows respect for the gods even when it goes against the laws of the king
- is in an arranged marriage to Haemon with the expectation that she will be a dutiful wife.
- she is under the control of her oldest male relative
How does Antigone defy her traditional role as a woman?
- she goes gains t the authority of the king/state
- she defies the will of her uncle
- she goes outside without permission when she speaks with ismane and performs the funeral rites for her brother
- she wants glory/recognition for being the one who buried polynices which is a very masculine traits in ancient times.
How does ismane follow her traditional role as a woman?
- she argues with Antigone that they should remain inside the palace
- she accepted her position as a subordinate to men and she fears for Antigone when she defies creon
- she tries to convince Antigone not to stand up against the power of the state
How dies ismane defy her traditional role as a woman?
- she does not have the same strength of faith to bury her brother when he dies
- she tries to take some of the blame for Antigone’s actions but Antigone does not allow her too.
How does Jocasta behave like a typical Greek woman?
- she provides Oedipus with four children
- she tries to help her husband when he is in need of support
- she prays to the god Apollo in scene three, even though she claims not to worry about what the gods are saying, she does look for advice and protection for Oedipus.
How does Jocasta behave like a non-traditional Greek woman?
- she is not a good example of a Greek woman as she is a queen in a royal household, Athens was a democracy with no royal family.
- Jocasta seems to be very open and vocal around Oedipus and the Chorus of Theban elders which is not typical for a Greek woman.
- she exposes her baby without much upset or emotion
How do Antigone and creon come into conflict?
They have a conflict of principles:
- creon is asserting his authority as king and trying to keep his city safe.
- Antigone is defending her brother’s honour and upholding the sacred rites of the gods (the unwritten laws)
- Antigone defy creon and is punished for refusing to obey the laws of the state.
- creon suffers for not following the natural law.
How does Antigone come into conflict with ismene?
They have a conflict of roles:
- ismane believes that their role as women prevents Antigone from standing up to creon
- Antigone is angry with ismeme for not following the sacred laws of the gods and for not burying her brother
- eventually ismene tries to side with Antigone but Antigone tells her its too late and they end their relationship on bad terms.
How does creon have conflict with the state?
- creon believes that 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 opposition to creons decision as it will anger the gods and ultimately have have a negative effect on the city.
How does creon have conflict with Haemon?
- Haemon is engaged to Antigone, probrably through his father’s actions.
- Haemon tries to kill creon when they find Antigone dead.
- Haemon falls on his own sword after lunging after his father.
- their conflict results in the death of Haemon and eventually Eurydice.
How does Oedipus conflict with other characters?
- he comes into conflict with creon when he accuses them off being the murderer of Laius and trying to take the crown.
- he also conflicts with Tiresias after he is summoned by Oedipus for advice, but then rejects this advice when it does not suit him. This is also a conflict with the will of the gods as Tiresias speaks for them.
- Oedipus also comes into conflict with Jocasta - he accuses her of being embarrassed by his ‘humble roots’ - this is when Jocasta has figured out who Oedipus really is when he has not yet.
How does oedipus come into contact with himself?
- Oedipus is driven by pride - he wants to find out how the murderer of Laius and to protect her city.
- he refuses to believe that he is his fathers killer.
- he pushes so hard wanting to know about the murderer against all advice (Tiresias an Jocasta) that he is under no uncertain terms that he has married her father and killed her mother.
- the inner conflict forces him into blindness, exile and an emotional release of all the pent up problems caused by his pride.
How is Antigone a good leader?
-she stands up for what she believes in and knows she should be right (to bury the body)
- she upholds the natural laws of the gods as dictated by traditional Greek religion = that women took care of the corpse and ensured that it received the burial rites.
