Summary of the Illiad

             Reading Report Six Sophocles.
            
             Sophocles was born around 496 BC. He served as treasurer of the imperial league in 443 BC. Sophocles was also one of only ten generals chosen for the war against Samos. In 411 BC, he was selected to be on a special council to deal with the disaster of the Athenian expedition to Sicily. In 468 BC, Sophocles won first place at the Dionysia for is drama. He produced over 100 plays in the next 62 years. He never came in third place with his great plays. He basically invented the third character. Not many of his plays can be accurately dated. (A short summary of the play follows.).
             Antigone.
             Polyneices and Eteocles have been killed in battle. Creon decided that Eteocles will be honored and Polyneices will not be buried. Antigone and Ismene are the sisters of the dead brothers, and they are now the last children of Oedipus. Antigone brings Ismene outside the city gates late at night for a secret meeting. Antigone wants to bury Polyneices' body, and Ismene refuses to help her. She fears the death penalty, and she tries to persuade Antigone from burying it. .
             Creon wants support in the days to come, especially in his decision of Polyneices' body. The Chorus of Theban elders pledge their support. A Sentry comes to inform them that the body has been buried. Creon orders the Sentry to find the person who buried him. The Sentry leaves, and brings Antigone back to Creon. He questions her, and she does not deny what she has done. She argues with Creon about the morality of the edict and the morality of what she has done. Creon grows mad. He sends for Ismene because he thinks she helped Antigone. Ismene tells Creon that she did it, but Antigone does not allow her to lie. Creon locks up Antigone and Ismene. .
             Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, expresses his agreement with his father, but he tries to get his father to let Antigone go. This creates an argument, and Haemon leaves, promising to never see Creon ever again.