1. Sophocles: The role of Women in the Sophoclean tragedy
The first words spoken by Antigone and the first words in the play demonstrate the vivid danger that Antigone is capable of imposing on other characters in the play, especially Creon: My own flesh and blood-dear sister, dear Ismene, how many griefs our father Oedipus handed down! ... There's nothing, no pain-our lives are pain-no private shame, no public disgrace, nothing I haven't seen in your grief and mine. (1–8) Antigone is referring to the familial grief that seems to be "handed down" from her father (Oedipus) to his son, her brother (Polynices). ... Antigone i...