Simply Antigone Based on Antigone by Sophocles

Simply Antigone Based on Antigone by Sophocles Antigone, daughter of Odie and Josie Izzy, sister of Antigone Chorus, the person telling the story Creon, king of Theban A Sentry, the guard Haemon, son of Creon Terry, a blind profit A Messenger Eurydice, wife of Creon Leader TIME AND SCENE: The royal castle of Thebes during the night hours after the city won a battle with Argos when an invasion occurred. Ed and Paul the sons of Odie, killed each other in battle. Creon, there uncle, is also king of Thebes. Enter Antigone, through a door as she motions her sister, Izzy, who followers her. Antigone: Oh sister, our brothers just killed each other in battle! How many more curses will we inherit from our father Odie? Have you learned about their fate? Izzy: I have heard nothing more about our two slain brothers. Only what happened in battle. Antigone: Well, I have a secret to tell you. Izzy: I can tell something is wrong. Antigone: Creon commanded that our brother Ed receive a proper burial, but Paul will not. Creon forbade it, and said that anyone who disobeys him will die a Copyright 2012 Brook Foreman

2 horrifying death. I am not so sure about what you think, so let us see what you decide. Izzy: You don t trust me, do you? Antigone: Are you going to help me then? Izzy: Help you do what? Antigone: Will you help me bury Paul s body? Izzy: You want to break the law!? Antigone: But he is our brother! How could you deny him that? Izzy: Creon means business when he outlaws something! Antigone: Yes, but he still has no right. Izzy: Think of how hated our father was for his crimes, and how he gouged his own eyes out. Then his wife, who was also his mother, hung herself to death. And now the death of our brothers! As you can see, we are cursed. We will definitely be killed if we burry Paul. And since we are women, we stand no chance for pardon. We are powerless! You are crazy if you do it. Paul would not begrudge us if we didn t. Antigone: I will not make you do something you do not want to do. I will bury him on my own and I will die a glorious death, according to the gods. Izzy: I don t want to dishonor the gods, but I am too scared to die for such a reason. Antigone: Then I will be the only one to do it! Izzy: Oh Antigone, I just know you will get caught. Antigone: Why don t you just worry about yourself? Izzy: At least don t tell anyone about your plans. I promise that I won t. Antigone: I m not ashamed; you can tell the world for all I care.

3 Izzy: Calm down Antigone, and try to think rationally! Antigone: I m going to do it whether you like it or not. Izzy: You always have to take the hard road, making things difficult on yourself. Antigone: Life is short anyway Izzy: Its suicide! Antigone: Just leave me alone then. I choose to die with honor. Izzy: One thing is for sure, you prove to be most loyal to the ones you love. Chorus: ED DIED A HERO, FIGHTING HIS BROTHER; PAUL DIED A TRAITOR, THEY BOTH KILLED EACHOTHER. Enter Creon from the palace, attended by his guard. Creon: The battle is over and fortunately, we prevailed and managed to push the enemy back. It is disappointing that even after the crimes Odie committed, we welcomed his children. The brothers have fought each other to their deaths, and I am their uncle, the king. I thought Paul was trustworthy, but he valued a friend more than the safety of the people in this city. Odie s son Ed, died fighting for our city and will receive the honors of a fallen hero. But Paul, who thirsted for the blood of his own people, will not be buried or mourned! His body needs to rot on the surface. Anyone who buries or morns him will pay with their life! Leader: If this is what you want, then it should be enforced. Creon: Then stay on guard. Leader: We are so old that we might fall to sleep. You should get some younger guards.

4 Creon: I didn t mean that! Leader: Then what do you want me to do? Creon: Make sure nobody breaks my orders. Leader: Only a dummy would do that. Creon: If they shall, then death will follow. A Sentry enters from the side. Sentry: Please forgive me my lord. I ran here as fast as I could, even knowing I might be facing my own death Creon: What is your point? Sentry: I had no idea that anything happened It s not my fault. Creon: Just tell me! Sentry: I am risking everything Creon: Tell me and be done with it!! Sentry: Someone has properly buried the body of Paul. Creon: Who would dare to do such a thing? Sentry: It s as if it happened out of thin air. There are no signs of anything or anyone! Whoever did it got the best of us fools. We decided to tell you and they appointed me to do so. Please spare my life. It happened like magic. Leader: Maybe the gods are responsible for the disappearance. Creon: Are you stupid? The gods would not waste their time for a traitor who tried to burn their temples and break their laws! Right from the start some of the citizens in this kingdom despised me, and ever since have been corrupting others, even bribing my own guards! For money, man will destroy cities, homes, and the good of others. If you don t find that body

5 and bring it to me, I swear I will torture you until you beg for death. The profits you have gained from this injustice will never save your life. Sentry: May I say one more thing? Creon: Can t you see that your words annoy me. Sentry: Why is my voice so bothering? Creon: Because you talk too much! Sentry: This isn t my fault. Creon: Yes it is, you sacrificed your life for silver. Sentry: I did no such thing. Creon: Then produce the criminal. Sentry: He will be found. I owe my thanks to the gods. Rushing out. Antigone enters the room with the Sentry. Chorus: THE CHILD OF A RECHID FATHER, SHE PROVED TO BE HIS DAUGHTER. Sentry: Where is Creon? We caught this wretch burying the body. Creon enters. Leader: Just in time. Creon: For what? Sentry: I never expected to have this kind of luck. After what you said to me, I swore I would never come back. This young girl was caught giving her dead brother his last rights. Creon: Her? What was she doing? Sentry: She was burying the man. Creon: Is this the truth? Sentry: I saw her doing it with my own eyes. Creon: What did you see?

6 Sentry: A whirlwind happened and everything turned black. After the storm passed, we heard sharp cries and saw her scooping up the dust with her hands, giving the dead its last rights. Creon: Speak up Antigone, did you do this or not? Antigone: Yes. Creon: I need to be alone to speak with Antigone. Sentry leaves. Creon: Were you aware of my decree forbidding this? Antigone: I knew about it. Everyone did. Creon: And you still had the nerve to break this law? Antigone: Of course I did. I was not about to break the law of the gods over the law of a mortal man. You are a fool if you think it was wrong to bury my mother s son. Creon: You are just like your traitor father. You have broken a strict law and I accuse your sister of the same crime. The two of you will face the same consequence. I hate it when a traitor tries to justify their crimes! Antigone: Why would you want more than my arrest and execution? Creon: I want it all! Antigone: Then just do it! I want this to be over with. The best glory of all was burying my brother and people would think so, if they didn t fear you. They know you are just a tyrant. Creon: Only you see things that way and it figures. Antigone: The citizens hate you but they are too scared to admit it! Creon: Aren t you ashamed of your disloyalty?

7 Antigone: Not to honor my own brother. Creon: What about your other brother Ed, who was murdered by your traitor brother? Antigone: Yes, he was my brother too. Creon: Then how can you give Paul that honor and how would your brother forgive you? Antigone: He will. Creon: Ed died fighting for us, for the good of this city. Once someone is an enemy, they our never our friend, even after they die. Antigone: I was taught to love, not hate. Creon: Then you can love in hell. No woman is going to change my mind. Enter Izzy from the room. Creon: Tell my Izzy, it is clear you come from a family of traitors, so what part did you play in this criminal act while you were living under MY roof? Izzy: I take as much responsibility for our brother. Antigone: No! She took no part in breaking the law. Izzy: We are sisters. Your trouble is my trouble. Antigone: But I did the work, not you! Izzy: Please sister, I want to die with you. Antigone: You shouldn t die for this, you did nothing. Izzy: We are both guilty and we will die together. Antigone: Save yourself sister, you did not choose to die. Creon: You women are both crazy! Izzy: Nobody can break the bond of sisters. Would you truly want to kill your future daughter-in-law? Creon: Antigone would have been a worthless wife to my only son. She is to die.

8 Leader: So you have made your decision? Antigone will die? Creon: Yes, Of course she will. Take them immediately! They might act fearless now but when they face death, they will scream and run for their lives. The guards escort the sisters out of the room. Chorus: THE FAMILY IS CURSED, FOR ODIE S MISTAKES; DEATH WILL OCCUR, THAT IS THEIR FATE. Haemon enters the room. Chorus: WHEN HAEMON FINDS OUT, WHAT WILL HE DO? AGREE WITH HIS FATHER, OR THINK HE IS CRUDE? Creon: Have you heard about the fate of your future wife? Is that why you re here? Do you hate me or love me? Hermon: No woman means more to me than you father. Creon: I knew you were a good son who would never lose his judgment over a woman. A worthless woman makes misery in the home and the bed. Let her go and let her die like a traitor should. She disobeyed my orders and shall pay. We will not let a woman make us feel sorry for her! I would rather lose my kingdom to another man than give into a woman. Leader: It makes since... Haemon: Father, the city is mourning Antigone. They say she does not deserve to die just for loving her brother. In fact, they say she deserves a crown for it. I am proud of your success, but it is not good to make single-minded decisions because emptiness will follow you. I know I am young, but I m not stupid. Leader: It would be wise to listen to him my lord.

9 Creon: We should listen to children? Haemon: Only when it is the right thing to do. Creon: Like admiring rebels? Haemon: No. Creon: Than what? Should I let the town tell me how to rule? Haemon: You sound like the child. A city should not be owned by just one man. Creon: I m the king, so I own the city. Haemon: You are offending justice. Creon: Because I am protecting my royal rights? Haemon: By dishonoring the gods? Creon: You are letting a woman corrupt you! I will see to it that you will never marry her! Haemon: If she dies, then I shall die. Creon: Don t threaten me boy. Haemon: You are insane! Creon: I will murder her right in front of you. I will make sure you both pay. Haemon: You will NEVER see me again. Haemon rushes out. Leader: Your son was angry. He might do something rash. Creon: Whatever he does, he will not have the power to save the lives of those foolish women. Leader: You still plan to kill both of them? Creon: Your right, not the other one. It seems like her hands were clean. Leader: What will you do to Antigone? Creon: I will lock her in a cave until she suffers and dies. We will see if the precious gods answer her prayers.

10 Chorus: DON T EVER LET LOVE, CLOUD THE MIND; IT WILL TEAR YOU APART, AND MAKE YOU BLIND. Antigone enters. Chorus: THE KING HAS SPOKE, ANTIGONE WILL DIE; SON HATES HIS FATHER, FOR KILLING HIS BRIDE. Antigone: It s a shame that I will never live to become a wife, but I am not afraid to face death. I know of gods who have suffered more, who have been turned into statues. Chorus: BUT THEY ARE GODS, AND YOU ARE NOT; YOU LL DIE IN A TOOMB, WHERE YOUR BODY WILL ROT. Antigone: Do you have to mock me and remind me that I have no home with the living or the dead? Chorus: YOU KNEW YOUR FATE, WHEN YOU BROKE THE LAW; YOUR FAMILY IS CURSED, BECAUSE OF YOUR PA. Antigone: Must you remind me of the doom I have faced, because I am a retched child of my father? Enter Creon. Creon: Guards, take her away to her tomb and leave her there to die! Antigone: I will soon be joining the ghosts of my growing family in the underworld, my parents, and my brothers. Take me now! Leader: She is still brewing with passion. Creon: Get her out of here. Antigone: Oh god! My time here is almost over. Creon: At least you see that there is no hope.

11 Antigone: I am ready. I beg you to take me away to suffer alone. Antigone leaves with guard. Enter Terry, the blind prophet. Terry: I have come here to share some words. Creon: What is your news? Terry: I will teach you. Creon: I always take your advice, and you have never let me down. Terry: And it helped you protect the city. Creon: I owe you for that. Terry: Then listen carefully. Creon: What? Tell me. Terry: I m warning you that you are about to make a terrible mistake that is going to backfire because of your stubbornness and stupidity. I mean you well, but having too much pride is a crime. Creon: How dare you old man! You say I should tolerate the burial of a traitor? You are just a liar who wants to rip me off by giving me bad advice. Terry: No man alive truly believes that! Creon: What other kinds of crap are you going to tell me? You have a twisted mind, old man. Terry: You are the sick one Creon! Creon: I don t have time to trade insult with you all day. Terry: You already have, by calling me a liar. Creon: You are just mad for money! Terry: Tyrants like you are the ones who rake it in! Creon: You are speaking to the King old man! Terry: Who helped you save the city? Creon: You did, but now you lust for the wrong.

12 Terry: I have a terrible secret to tell you about. Creon: Then tell me without making profit! Terry: You are the one who will not profit. Creon: I will never be bought off! Terry: You kept a dead body from its proper burial. It is not your right to order such things. Then you punish the woman who tries to make it right. The gods are shaken by your ill decision. I must leave you with your own miseries now. Terry exits the room. Leader: That old man has never lied to you before. Creon: I know that. I can t just go back on my word. Leader: It was good advice and I think you should take it. Creon: I don t know what to do. Leader: Free the girl, and bury your nephew s body. Creon: You think I should give in? Leader: Give in now before the gods punish you! Creon: I hate giving in, but I must. Leader: Yes! Do it now. Creon: I will free her myself! Creon rushes out. Messenger: Creon was once envied by others. But a man who squanders his own true joys might as well be dead. All the money in the world will not make him happy. Leader: What terrible news did you come here to tell us? Messenger: More death has come to this family. Leader: Who did it? Who died? Messenger: Haemon is gone; his blood spilled everywhere as he tried to kill his father! This is the truth. Eurydice enters.

13 Eurydice: I overheard your conversation and I could tell something horrible has happened, so my heart stopped. Please tell me, we all know that I am no stranger to tragedy, I can handle the worst. Messenger: I will tell you the honest truth because I was there and saw it with my own two eyes. I guided Creon to the remains of Paul and we washed them with holy water and burned the scattered pieces. Then we set off to the cave where we found the tomb open and Creon heard Haemon s desperate cries. When we entered the cave, we found Antigone hanging by the neck and Haemon was desperately clinging to her. When Creon approached his son, Haemon spat on him and lunged at his father, but missed. Then he leaned the weight of his body on his own sword. He was still embracing the girl when he died. Eurydice exits. Leader: Where did the lady go? Should we have let her? Messenger: She was acting calm; I don t think she will do anything rash. Leader: Silence promises danger... Messenger: You may be right. I think I will check on her. The messenger exits and Creon enters. Leader: Creon is coming and he is mad! He is holding the head of his dead son. Creon: My dear son s life is cut short, all because of me. Leader: Now you understand what justice means. Creon: I know now, through blood and tears. I feel the pain from our shattered lives. The messenger enters.

14 Messenger: Master, I am sorry to tell you, but more bad luck follows you. Creon: What could be worse than this? Messenger: The queen is dead, her wounds still bleed. Creon: NO!! It can t be. I can t take any more pain or loss. Eurydice s body is brought out. Messenger: You can see for yourself. Creon: Oh no, what next? Is there anything left to take? Messenger: She stabbed herself at the alter cursing you for killing her sons. Creon: Why not kill me too? Messenger: You are to blame for all of their deaths. Creon: How did she do it? Messenger: She stabbed her own heart. Creon: It s my fault! I killed you. I confess! I m nothing take me away from here. Leader: That would be best. Creon: I beg for death. Come get me! Leader: They will get you when they want you. Creon: But I poured my heart into that prayer. Leader: Prayers will not help you escape your doom. Creon: Take me away. I am a murderer! I murdered my wife, and my son! Creon is escorted away. The stage fades to black. The End