BONUS - Antigone

            Fist off I have to admit that I had never heard the story about Antigone before watching the play preformed by the Acadia Theater Company.  However after watching their amazing production I feel like I understand the themes that the play has to offer. 

            This play was written in around the time of 440 BC.  This play was a much more modernized demonstrated version on the play.  However it continued to have mostly the same language that it was initially written in.  The fact that it was set in a more modern time I believe had a much more impact on the ability to understand how much times have changed, yet still seem to remain the same. 

            This play is focused on politics.  The politics influenced by a family after the death of a king and his two sons.  The king’s two sons, Eteocles and Polynices had gotten in a fight and were both killed in this dispute of who was going to be the king of Thebes.  It was decided that Eteocles was to be buried and Polynices was left to rot.  As well if someone were to try to bury Polynices, they were to be put to death.  Antigone, who was the daughter of the King did not approve of this and believed that her bother deserved to be put to rest and buried.  Going against the new king, Creon her uncle, she attempted to bury her brother.  She was caught not caught the first time, yet goes back to finish and is caught by the guards. 

            Antigone and Creon talk in private on what will happen.  This is then where she finds out that both of her brothers had planned to kill their father. When Creon had found them dead they were mashed together and had simply took the one that looked to best and gave him a funeral. Antigone was in shock and after this her and Creon’s son who was planed to marry Antigone had died together.

            The whole main aspect of politics in this play is opened up in the actual truth, which is hidden behind lies and deception.  Creon feels like he his forced to do as what the public sees to be right.  He does not want to cause the people to have a reason to believe he is not strong by doing what he knows is right by burring Polynices.  In light this is still seen in politics today.  People have to be ‘perfect’ in politics.  As well they have to do what will keep them in power even if they know it is not the righteous thing to do.  

            This is one reason why I have grown to have a dislike of politics.  I understand that we must know how governments work.  There are so many controversial aspects in politics that there is no reason for.  I understand that aspects of politics such as a country’s government is one that really needs to be analyzed for the populations best interest, yet is there really a need for hard feelings and so many harsh words exchanged between sides when all anyone should be doing is looking for everyone’s best interest.  I guess I am not a person who enjoys conflict and that seems to be what politics revolves around. 

            What happened to doing what’s best for each and everyone’s quality of life?