Answer the five questions on the syllabus from the perspective of Haemon. Discuss the change in the way Antigone conducts herself in this portion of the play. Has your emotional response to her as a character changed?
Consider each conflict from the perspectives of the various characters or authors involved in them. Then judge the speech and deeds of these characters/authors by the communal values that they either call into question or affirm. In particular, I would like you to ask yourselves the following questions from the perspectives of each of the main characters/authors: (Answers must all be adjectives)
1) Who am I?
I am Haemon, son of Creon of Thebes. I am determined but weak, influential but helpless, certain yet conflicted. I am deeply distressed and agitated, outraged and horrified by what is happening to Antigone. My aggression and initiative will not let me be passive, but I am affectionate and rational and these hold me back. The crisis makes me deeply afraid and despairing – all my hopes have come crashing down. [Lines 600 – 625]
2) What do I value?
I value my life, the lives and well being of those whom I love – may parents, my siblings, my beloved Antigone. Reason is important to me, I do no think it is correct to act rashly out of any emotion, either too kindly or too harshly. Compassion is important to me, and I appreciate Antigone’s concern for her brother, how she protected his body from being defiled in the sun. It was the right thing to do, since even enemies deserve dignity. And I am distressed by injustice – the injustice of sentencing her to death for loving her brother, and wanting to do right by them. Sometimes, I think they are unfairly suffering because of their parents (and even they weren’t to blame for anything that happened, it was more like the will of the gods). I can’t stand by and see someone I love suffering under injustice for doing the right thing. [Lines 550 – 582]
3) What do I think is true?
I think that everyone’s point of view is partially true. It is true that Polynices attacked Thebes, but it also true that this was only because Eteocles did not honor his agreement. Should we allow Eteocles freedom to make and break bargains, and punish Polynices for being offended when he is wronged? I think Antigone has behaved nobly, as befits someone of kingly blood. But the reaction to her is lacking in all wisdom, jus sheer anger and obsession with having their own way. I think my father and the nobles of Thebes should compromise and have mercy. And I think I cannot live without Antigone. [Lines 553 – 559, Lines 579 – 595]
4a) What must I do in my present circumstances? (fiction) or
I have to make an impossible choice – to choose my beloved or my father’s choice. Both have gone to extremes and I don’t think I can convince either of them back – my father is determined to kill Antigone, and Antigone is almost as determined to die! Almost her whole family is dead now, and she has suffered so much. What can I offer her? I love her, but that isn’t much to offer someone who is treated like a curse, and saw her brother’s body being defiled. I was not there for her then, otherwise perhaps I could have helped her, stopped my father before too many things were said that could not be taken back. I feel that I failed her, I have to try and stand up for her now. I have to try and convince my father, I must try and prevent her execution. If I can’t, I will die with her. [Lines 605 – 625]
4b) What do I want others to believe and/or do? (nonfiction)
5) How can I explain my actions to other members of my community? (fiction) or
I acted with the best of intentions in a difficult situation, and I don’t think I owe any explanation to people who closed their eyes to injustice, or refused to listen to reason when I tried to talk to them. I loved my father, and I loved Antigone. It was not our fault that Thebes went to war, or that both sides were our family. It was only after it was all over that Antigone did what any loving sister would. Why would a sister care even if her brother was the city’s enemy? She knew that after death, there are no enemies. But my father did wrong – he acted out of vicious anger and too much pride, he only wanted his own way no matter what was correct. I had to stand for the right thing, and I realized I could never stand with someone who would kill my beloved Antigone.
5b) How can I persuade others to believe what I say and/or do what I want?(nonfiction)
Antigone’s Conduct:
