Prologue and parados commentary essay for Sophecles Antigone 09/09/09 In the prologue and parados, the play

begins with Ismene followed by Antigone arriving on the stage, both in a desperate state. From this, we know that the scene along with its characters (Antigone and Ismene) which hold dialogue quite significant to the foreshadowing of the play is essentially important. They bring about the themes of the scene as they talk about how their two brothers, both fallen in a day are going to be buried. Both sisters have their own standpoint but try to settle a dilemma of conflict between what each believes. Antigone resembles the running themes of honor, martyrdom, and family values. She believes in the righteous and vigilant burial of her brother and the holiest laws of heaven, whereas Ismene believes this is a suicide mission; Ismene resembles the themes of coerced obedience and conflict brought forth by Creons order in stoning anyone who buries Polenices to death. Creons order has themes of militarism and mercilessness which drains Ismene of her ability to aid Antigone in burying their brother. These themes develop to be easier to identify for the reader as to how they work for the scene, while dialogue between the two sisters progress. Also, more and more reveals about the characters of the play as a support for the themes. As mentioned, the two themes Ismene resembles are expressed through her discussion with Antigone about her fear of Creons power. Here, we not only know how Creon is a strictly lawful and powerful figure who can affect Antigones fate if she was to bury Polynices. We also know that Ismene is much of an enquirer who takes caution and security when discussing with Antigone about this matter.

The quotes during her dialogue with Antigone shows us about her character: what more can I do, or undo, to help you?. This shows how much power Creon has over Ismene as to restrict her from aiding Antigone with ease. The second quote: to bury him? Against the order? suggests that Ismene is a sister who clarifies messages for a secure understanding of them, and in this case, it would be to understand Antigones motive. Antigones motive was reminiscent of the Greek concept of proper burial as a rite of passage into heaven. (This as extra information tells the reader the type of religious ideas the Greeks followed at the time, that proper burial was the only ticket to heaven.) Antigone is more assertive and confident than Ismene as she states about Polenices: I shall never desert him. Never. Her motive and character pushes her to contemplate burying Polenices inspite of being stoned to death as punishment a sign of bravery. The second reason for her to bury her brother is clear: fact is that Polenices is her brother. Generally, the prologue and parados brings the reader to a clear overview of what has happened to Oedipus, Jocasta, Eteocles, and his brother whos corpse was ordered by King Creon to be left for carrionbirds to feed. As the scene progresses, we learn about how the death of Antigones mother and father as well as brothers fueled her into a narrow goal as to defy even the laws of the now Theban king. The significance lies partly in the way each of the characters above were discussed through dialogue of Antigone and Ismene, thus deepening our understanding of the thoughts and feelings of the character named in the title of the story Antigone, and why she is stepping deeper into the role of a tragic hero who would die painfully for family honor.