Zenas Underwood
Is Antigone An Accurate Portrayal of Ancient Greek Culture
In order for an author to write a interesting story one has to have a theme to incorporate in there story that they are creating. Most authors do research to find interesting topics and themes to write about. Some even just add in their own cultures and beliefs. The information that these authors add into their stories are most times truthful and actually reflects values of the chosen culture. The author Sophocles chose the ancient Greek culture as the basis of his play Antigone. In this play the idea of ancient Greek culture is accurately portrayed.
“Most Greeks were devoutly religious…†( Nardo, 69). One of the most important aspects of the ancient greek culture is religion. In Antigone religion is also very important. The gods were the ultimate people in power and to go against them was the worst thing that a human could do. In the play tiresias was the portrayal of a god. Note that Tiresias tell King Creon, “ A corpse for a corpse the price, and flesh for flesh, one of your begottenâ€(roche. ). Tiresias tell this to creon, after creon decides to go against the word of the gods. Punishment is usually what happens to people who choose to defy the word of the gods.
In the culture of the ancient greeks the government and politics where very important. This is what the people of the society used for rule and order. Ancient greek cites were run by the kings. In Antigone creon was the governemt official. What creon said was what was supposed to be done by his followers. The politics of Thebes came from the rules and laws that he created. Creon announces to all of Thebes, “So there your have my principles by which I govern… Estecocles, who died in arms for thebes shall have glorious funeral… But his brother polynieces… Ive sent the edict out that none shall bury him or even mournâ€(Roche, 199). In the section of the play Creon uses in power over the people to instruct them to do what he though of as good.
