Quotes For Antigone

Front 1

towards altar at center of stage

Back 1

stage direction

Front 2

Decide, will you share the labor, share the work?

Back 2

49-50 Antigone to Ismene. Asking about burying their dead brother.

Front 3

Remember we are women. We are not born to contend with men.

Back 3

74-75 Ismene to Antigone. trying to convince her not to bury their brother

Front 4

Dear god, shout it from the rooftops. I'll hate you all the more for silence. Tell the world!

Back 4

100-101 Antigone to Ismene Ismene wanted to keep the burial a secret and Antigone responds with that

Front 5

My countrymen, the ship of state is safe. The gods who rocked her, after a long merciless pounding in the storm, have righted her once more. Out of the whole city, I have called you here alone. Well I know, first, your undeviating respect for the throne, amd royal powers of King Laius. Next while Oedipus steered the land of Thebes, even after he died, your loyalty was unshakable,you still stood by their children. Now then, since the two sons are dead- two blows of fate in the same day, cut down by each other's hands, both killers, both brothers stained with blood- as I am next in kin to the dead, I now possess the throne and all it's powers.

Back 5

179-193 Creon to the Chorus Creon telling the people that they are safe, trying to get them on his side, taking the throne.

Front 6

Remember this: our country is our safety.

Back 6

210-211 Creon to Chorus they must stick together

Front 7

If this is your pleasure, Creon, treating our city's enemy and our friend this way. The power is yours, I suppose, to enforce it with the laws, both for the dead and all of us, the living.

Creon: Follow my orders closely then. Be on your guard.

Leader: We're too old. Lay that burden on younger shoulders.

Creon: No, I didn't mean the body, I've already posted guards.

Leader: What commands us? What other service?

Creon: See that you never side with those who break my orders.

Back 7

236-245 convo between Leader and Creon the communication between them is not too good, the chorus is just kinda going with Creon

Front 8

First, myself, I've got to tell you, I didn't do it, didn't see who did. Be fair, do not take it out on me

Back 8

268-270 sentry to Creon he is making sure he won't get in trouble

Front 9

Stop, before you make me choke with anger, the gods! You, you're senile, you must be insane!

Back 9

317-319 Creon to Leader when Leader suggests that the gods commenced the burial of Polynices

Front 10

You, I swear to Zeus, as I still believe in Zeus, if you don't find the man who buried that corpse, the very man, and produce him before my eyes, simple death will not be good enough for you, not till we string you up alive and wring the immortality out of you

Back 10

344-350 Creon to Leader emphasis on how Creon thinks it's a man who did this

Front 11

When he weaks in the laws of the land, and the justice of the gods, that binds his oaths together, he and his city rise high, but the city casts out the man who weds himself to inhumanity thanks to reckless daring. Never share my hearth, never think my thoughts, whoever does such things.

Back 11

409-416 Chorus they are siding with Creon on the burial

Front 12

no napping on the job, not this time, so the hours dragged by

Back 12

458- 459 Sentry to Creon they nap on the job sometimes

Front 13

And she cried out with a sharp piercing cry, like a bird come back to an empty nest, peering into its bed and all the babies gone. Just so, when she sees the corpse bare, she bursts into a long shattering wail, and calls down withering curses on the heads of all who did the work. And she scoops up dry dust, handfuls, quickly, and lifting a fine bronze urn, lifting it high and pouring, she crowns the dead with 3 full libations.

Back 13

471-479 Sentry to Creon how Antigone buried her brother and poured a drink for him

Front 14

And if my actions strike you as foolish, let's just say I have been accused of folly by a fool.

Back 14

523-524 Antigone to Creon calling Creon a fool

Front 15

they'd praise me too, if their lips weren't locked in fear

Back 15

564-565 Antigone about Chorus saying Creon is controlling them and they'd side with her if they could

Front 16

Creon: Answer me. Swear to me.

Ismene: I did it, yes, if only she consents, I share the guilt, the consequences too.

Back 16

603-604 Creon and Ismene Ismene is trying to take some of the blame and punishment off Antigone

Front 17

True, my King, the sense we're born with cannot last forever. Commit cruelty on a person long enough and the mind begins to go.

Back 17

634-637 Ismene to Creon if you are mean to someone long enough, they will eventually snap

Front 18

Her? Don't even mention her, she no longer exists.

Back 18

641 Creon to Ismene about Antigone

Front 19

Father, I'm your son, you, in your wisdom, set my bearings for me- I obey you.

Back 19

709-710 Haemon to Creon he's an obedient little guy

Front 20

Show me a man who rules his household well, I'll show you someone fit to rule the state.

Back 20

739-740 Creon he's a good ruler because his son obeys him

Front 21

I'll take her down some wild, desolate path; never trod by men, and wall her up alive, in a rocky vault, and set out short rations, just a gesture of piety, to keep the entire family free of defilement.

Back 21

870-874 Creon Antigone's death will not be his fault this way

Front 22

But now, even I'd rebel against the King, I'd break all bounds when I see this

Back 22

895-896 Chorus they no longer side with Creon

Front 23

But think of Niobe- well I know her story- think what a living death she died. Tantalus' daughter, stranger queen from the east.

Back 23

915-917 Antigone pleading her case. calling herself a goddess

Front 24

As for myself, my hands are clean.

Back 24

975 Creon. He is not holding himself responsible for Antigone's death

Front 25

Then reflect my son, you are poised, once more, on the razor-edge of fate.

Back 25

1099-1100 Tiresias to Creon telling the future

Front 26

Stubborness brands you for stupidity- pride is a crime.

Back 26

1136-1137 Tiresias to Creon telling Creon his flaws

Front 27

The chariot of the sun will not race through so many circuits more before you have surrendered one born of your own loins, your own flesh and blood.

Back 27

1182-1184 Tiresias to Creon Creon will have to sacrifice his son

Front 28

What should I do? Tell me, I'll obey.

Back 28

1223 Creon to Leader Creon says the unthinkable

Front 29

Pile up riches in your house as much as you like, live like a king with a huge show of pomp, but if real delight is missing from the lot, I wouldn't give you a wisp of smoke for it, not compared with joy.

Back 29

1287-1291 Messenger Money can't buy happiness

Front 30

Wisdom is by far the greatest part of joy and reverence toward the gods must be safeguarded. The mighty words of the proud are paid in full with mighty blows of fate and at long last those blows will teach us wisdom.

Back 30

1466-1470 Chorus last lines of the play