INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE AND DRAMA

Introduction to Theatre and Drama



Introduction to Theatre and Drama

Antigone

Introduction

Antigone is written by Sophocles before 442 B.C. Two brothers were killed in the Polyneices and Eteocles in Thebes' civil war. Creon was made the new ruler of Thebes who ordered that Polyneices would be disgraced, and his body would not be made sacred holy and will not be allowed to be buried.

Discussion

Antigone meets Ismene secretly outside the city and asks her for help in burying Polyneices' body against the rule. Ismene is scared and fears the death penalty, therefore, refuses to help. The Sentry who informed them was ordered to find the culprit and not much time passed, when he came back with Antigone (Scodel, 1984). Upon questioning, she accepts that she has buried the body. Her arguments about the morality angers Creon. Creon assumes that Ismene may have helped her too and, therefore, she is called too. Though, Ismene have not helped Antigone, but she makes a false claim that she has done so. Creon orders a temporarily lock up for both of them.

The Chorus urges Creon to obey the blind prophet. Creon, afraid of what he has been told, agrees. The Chorus sends a choral to the God where a Messenger informs them that Haemon has murdered himself. Creon's wife Eurydice requests the messenger to tell her everything. He reports that Haemon and Antigone both have killed themselves. After hearing this news, Eurydice disappears.

Creon carries his son's body. He regrets what he has done. A second Messenger arrives to inform Eurydice has killed herself, cursing her husband. Creon blamed himself for everything; abiding by the orders he disappointed his Gods and lost everything. The major themes discussed in Antigone were pride; divine law versus human law; position of women; lack of agency and threat of tyranny.

Hamlet

Introduction

Hamlet is written by William Shakespeare, and it is a famous tragedy play about Prince Hamlet's revenge for his dad. The disguise of madness used by Hamlet in the play questions his motifs against the king and himself. He is arguably the most complicated, dramatic character ever created by William Shakespeare. His characteristics range from evil, dark, and mysterious to intelligent, courageous, and cautious. He is seen by other characters in the play as a madman, or completely insane. But the audience is informed of Hamlets knowledge and of his true intensions (Bloom, 1990). To them he is seen as a contemplative thinker and genius. Hamlet's lack of action in the play is the cause of his procrastination, as he is unsure about his revenge, his life, and his future.

Discussion

The doubt and distrust on the dark battlements pervade the entire play, so that even small, enclosed spaces feel the chill and gusty. Ambiguity blurs or qualifies every theme and character in Hamlet. No significant work in literary history has been so contested in meaning or subjected to such a mass of alternative interpretations. Criticism has buried the play in questions, while stage and film productions continue to ...