Events in the past 48 hours include a conflict between the two brothers Eteocles and Polynices. After Oedipus died, the two brothers were to switch off as king, but Eteocles refused to give up the throne after his first year. As a result, conflict arises with Polynices bringing in foreign forces to take his year as king. The two brothers fight and both die. Creon, their uncle and Oedipus' brother, becomes king and orders Polynices to not receive a proper burial, since he appeared to be a traitor. It is ordered that his body is to rot and be eaten by vultures and dogs. Creon's order causes Antigone to feel threatened in her wish to give her brother a proper burial. Nonetheless, Antigone successfully and secretly buries her brother, bringing her the fear of death since she defied the king's order. That same night, the nurse catches Antigone sneaking back into the house.
The previous events are explained by the chorus giving background information to some of the characters. The structure of this play is different than the other plays we have read. The action in the play actually starts with Antigone sneaking into her house, but events in the past are crucial to understand what is going on. The chorus explains the history of some of the characters, giving the reader information that eliminates the need to make inferences to what has happened. We are given a specific outlook to the characters. The chorus also hints at some of the possible future events, such as Antigone dying. By the chorus doing this, it gives the reader to expect something. With the reader expecting a certain outcome, it creates the possibility of surprise. When certain expectations do happen the way we expect them to, surprise is placed instead. With my experience with tragedies so far, surprises seem to be a popular technique. I think this structure Anouilh uses effectively helps set up for the events that are to happen later in the play.
The previous events are explained by the chorus giving background information to some of the characters. The structure of this play is different than the other plays we have read. The action in the play actually starts with Antigone sneaking into her house, but events in the past are crucial to understand what is going on. The chorus explains the history of some of the characters, giving the reader information that eliminates the need to make inferences to what has happened. We are given a specific outlook to the characters. The chorus also hints at some of the possible future events, such as Antigone dying. By the chorus doing this, it gives the reader to expect something. With the reader expecting a certain outcome, it creates the possibility of surprise. When certain expectations do happen the way we expect them to, surprise is placed instead. With my experience with tragedies so far, surprises seem to be a popular technique. I think this structure Anouilh uses effectively helps set up for the events that are to happen later in the play.
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