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| Character | Guard | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Descriptive, Frustrated, Insecure, Afraid, Apologetic | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Ancient Greek | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama | |
| Description | A guard tells Creon that somebody dared to bury Polyneices' body | |
| Location | Scene 4 | |
Summary
Antigone is the sequel to Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes. In Aeschylus' play two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, faced each other in battle for Thebe's throne and they both died in the battle. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, declares that only Etiocles will be buried and Policeices' body will be left in the battlefield.
Antigone, the sister of the two dead brothers, decides to defy Creon's decree and bury her brother. When Creon finds out he sentences her to death, even if she is his son's (Haemon) fiance´. Haemon tries to persuade him to change his mind to no avail. Antigone is buried alive in a cave.
After listening to the advice of a blind prophet, Tiresias, and considering the negative reaction of the people of Thebes for his harsh sentence, Creon changes his mind. It is too late though, as Antigone and Haemon have taken their own lives. Hearing the news, Creon's wife, Eurydice, takes her life as well.
Creon blames himself for what happened to his family, realizing that is his punishment for acting against the gods.
In this monologue a guard tells Creon that somebody has dared bury Polyneices' body. Nobody knows who broke Creon's decree.
Antigone, the sister of the two dead brothers, decides to defy Creon's decree and bury her brother. When Creon finds out he sentences her to death, even if she is his son's (Haemon) fiance´. Haemon tries to persuade him to change his mind to no avail. Antigone is buried alive in a cave.
After listening to the advice of a blind prophet, Tiresias, and considering the negative reaction of the people of Thebes for his harsh sentence, Creon changes his mind. It is too late though, as Antigone and Haemon have taken their own lives. Hearing the news, Creon's wife, Eurydice, takes her life as well.
Creon blames himself for what happened to his family, realizing that is his punishment for acting against the gods.
In this monologue a guard tells Creon that somebody has dared bury Polyneices' body. Nobody knows who broke Creon's decree.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| GUARD My liege, I will not say that I come breathless from speed, or that have plied a nimble foot; for often did my thoughts make me pause, and wheel round in my path, to return. My mind was holding large discourse with me; 'Fool, why goest thou to thy certain doom?' 'Wretch, tarrying again? And if Creon hears this from another, must not thou smart for it?' So debating, I went on my way with lagging steps, and thus a short road was made long. At last, however, it carried the day that I should come hither-to thee; and, though my tale be nought, yet will I tell it; for I come with a good grip on one hope,-that I can suffer nothing but what is my fate.... The corpse-some one hath just given it burial, and gone away,-after sprinkling thirsty dust on the flesh, with such other rites as piety enjoins.... no stroke of pickaxe was seen there, no earth thrown up by mattock; the ground was hard and dry, unbroken, without track of wheels; the doer was one who had left no trace. And when the first day-watchman showed it to us, sore wonder fell on all. The dead man was veiled from us; not shut within a tomb, but lightly strewn with dust, as by the hand of one who shunned a curse. And no sign met the eye as though any beast of prey or any dog had come nigh to him, or torn him. Then evil words flew fast and loud among us, guard accusing guard; und it would e'en have come to blows at last, nor was there any to hinder. Every man was the culprit, and no one was convicted, but all disclaimed knowledge of the deed. And we were ready to take red-hot iron in our hands;-to walk through fire;-to make oath by the gods that we had not done the deed,-that we were not privy to the planning or the doing. At last, when all our searching was fruitless, one spake, who made us all bend our faces on the earth in fear; for we saw not how we could gainsay him, or escape mischance if we obeyed. His counsel was that this deed must be reported to thee, and not hidden. And this seemed best; and the lot doomed my hapless self to win this prize. So here I stand,-as unwelcome as unwilling, well I wot; for no man delights in the bearer of bad news. |
