Social, Historical and Cultural Factors Flashcards
Sophocles
Wrote Antigone in 441 BC
When was Antigone writtten?
441 BC
The Theban Plays?
They were written over the course of 30 years. Antigone was the third and final part chronologically but was actually written first.
Men and Women
Ancient Greek was a patriarchal society. Women are not allowed to take part in public life or participate in debates about law. Social classes and citizenship applied to men only , with women taking all their social and legal statutes from their husband or partner.
Men and Women in terms of the characters.
Antigone defines the gender construct of the time and Creon’s shock at her disobedience would have echoed the Athenian values of female silence. Some say Antigone is almost genderless, representing the right of Athenian citizens to debate in assembly, with Ismene displaying the more socially accepted feminine norm of the time.
Democracy
Sophocles wrote during a time of end to dictatorship, violence, and oppression in Athens. Society was organized into urban political communities, with decisions made by the Ekklesia. Democracy limited kings, aristocrats, and tyrannical leaders. Public offices were allocated by drawing lots, and lawbreakers were tried by jury.
Plays Were Used for Social Commentary
Attendance at Athenion plays was seen as a civic duty, as they addressed social and political issues. Athenion playwrights used traditional stories and fables to reflect their era. Some believe Creon was modeled after Pericles, and Sophocles used the mythical conflict between Antigone and Creon to warn against tyranny and dictatorship.
Laws
Antigone, written for an audience in Athens, emphasizes democratic debate and the importance of loyalty to the city and its laws. Antigone’s position towards Creon, a tyrant, is seen as a woman’s right to denounce him. The play’s thematic emphasis on democracy links it to the historical context of Athens, where women were not allowed to speak out on matters of the state.
Festival of Dionysus
The festival, similar to the Olympics, featured feasts, processions, and plays with religious significance. It was a public event dedicated to Dionysus, the God of wine, fertility, and ritual madness. The festival took place in March, with three playwrights competing for tickets. The event was free for all citizens, including the poor and prisoners. The winner was chosen by a jury drawn by ordinary citizens. In 468 B.C., Sophocles, an unknown playwright, beat Aeschylus, winning 24 times and seven times in 31 competitions, setting a record for any Greek playwright.
Man’s Law vs God’s Law Religion and Burial
Antigone is a Greek play that explores the conflict between ancient, unwritten laws of the gods and the man-made state’s written law. The Greeks believed in divine law and considered burial of the dead sacred. Antigone argues that Creon’s law ignores these laws, arguing that unwritten laws are more important than formal codes. She defies Creon by refusing to bury the dead, thereby subverting the laws of nature.
