Burial at Thebes by Sophocles - Essay Example

?Burial at Thebes could be influenced by older works of other and will come up with their own interpretation of the other work. That new interpretation will mainly aptly reflect the current times of the author. This is what Irish Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney did. After being influenced by 5th century BC Greek tragedy Antigone written by Sophocles, Heaney came up with his own interpretation titled, The Burial at Thebes, subtly reflecting the Iraq war and the authoritarian decisions of former US President, George W Bush. Heaney’s work followed the same storyline of Sophocles’ work, but in an all new structure and sentences, giving his own interpretations to certain events and decisions of the characters. As Heaney wrote this work in 2003, the year of Iraq War, there is view that he seems to be influenced by the War to come up with his own interpretation of Antigone. “(He) wrote in 2003, believing that "with the White House and the Pentagon in cahoots, determined to bring the rest of us into line over Iraq, the passion and protest of an Antigone were all of a sudden as vital as oxygen masks". (Spencer 2007). Apart from these reflections, this work and the conflicts between the main characters seems to be relevant to the current times across different culture. As in Sophocles’s Antigone, The Burial at Thebes is about life, fight and death of Antigone and the events surrounding it, with the conflicts between the characters leading to a tragic end. The title of the play in a way recalls the punishment meted out to Antigone in the cave of Thebes, where she was buried alive. After her two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, die in the Thebes’ civil war, both were given contrasting ‘burials’, based on the allegiance. “The tragedy is multiplied when not only Polyneices is felled in the war, but also Antigone’s other brother, Eteocles, perishes on the opposing side -- Creon’s side. The stain of Oedipus extends to his ill-starred offspring.” (Adarlo 2005). While, Eteocles, who was fighting for Creon, King of Thebes, was buried with full honours, Polyneices, who was fighting against Creon, was left to be eaten by the carrions. Their sister, Antigone, who is also the ‘sister’ to her father, Oedipus, wants to give Polyneices a proper burial. Already tainted by her heritage, Antigone wants to give some honour to his dead brother, although he was considered as the traitor of Thebes by the King Creon. This sets the stage for the major conflict between Antigone and her future father-in-law Creon. Antigone has been betrothed to Creon’s son Haemon, and that does not prevent her from fighting for her dead brother. On the other hand, Creon by placing his kingdom and his policies regarding traitors over his soon-to-be daughter-in-law’s dead brother, denies her wish. With both of them not willing to give in from their Stated positions, it leads to further deterioration of their relationship. This conflict between daughter-in-law and father-in-law, although not a common occurrence, happens in cultures all over the world. Stereotypically, mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws are considered to be ‘sworn enemies’, who both indulge in conflicts quite often, with the father-in-law being the silent spectator. However, sometimes, conflicts could arise between them and that could come into the public domain, if anyone one of them is a public figure. This has happened in the case of Chairman of the family bench at Worcester Magistrates Court, Richard Westcott, whose daughter-in-law, Sarah complained that he physically assaulted him during a scuffle. Sarah had a fight with her husband and Richard’s son, Edward, when it was alleged that his father-in-law, wanting to protect his son, intervened and physically assaulted her although she had baby in her hand. The court heard she later told police: “I was hit on my upper body and Daniel was hit on the side. I'm a doctor and I'm worried about Daniel's arm. I was hit at least seven times.” (Dolan 2007). Her complaint against Richard elicited a defamation suit from him against her for damaging his reputation by framing up stories. “Mr Westcott, 69, said the allegations seriously damaged his reputation and undermined his position as a justice of the peace.” (Dolan 2007). However, his petition was rejected by another court Judge named Judge Parkes, who ruled that Sarah's account to police was covered under “absolute privilege” and “immune from suit”, and so she does not need to face the defamation suit. (Dolan 2007). Although, this appears to be an isolated incident, it clearly shows that conflicts between father-in-law and daughter-in-law could arise due one reason or other, like in the case of Creon and Antigone. Even if Creon and Antigone’s relationship as father-in-law and daughter-in-law has not been confirmed, when the conflict arises, as Antigone has been betrothed to Creon’s son, the conflict was fought on the basis of that relationship. Antigone demanded burial honours for her brother from Creon because of him being his future father-in-law. With Creon not heeding to her request, Antigone ignoring Creon’s orders performed the burial ritual of scattering Polyneices corpse with dust. This angers Creon and he sentences her to death by trapping her in a cave, and then sealing it with rocks. There, Antigone kills herself and that sets a chain of tragedies, as all the main characters indulge in conflicts, become depressed and kill themselves. Both Haemon and Creon’s wife Eurydice commit suicides, unable to bear losses. “She (Antigone) thereby initiates a grimly tragic process: not only does Antigone die, hanging herself when Creon, in retribution, buries her alive in a cave, but Creon's son Haemon, who is betrothed to Antigone, also kills himself out of grief, as does Creon's wife, Eurydice.” (Corcoran 2004). The conflict between Antigone and Creon, apart from reflecting a personal perspective of a clash between a daughter-in-law and father-in-law, can also be viewed from a broader perspective and how it reflects conflicts between two countries. The conflict and its portrayal by Haney had certain inherent aspects, which reflect the geo-politics of that time. “…uncomplicated translation that…instills new vigor to a tragedy about a rebellious woman and her head-strong tyrant uncle…it serves to teach timely and important lessons on individual rights, and maybe some geo-politics” (Adarlo 2005). Antigone wanted to give proper burial for his brother, which is her individual right or wish, however, it is in conflict with the Kingdom or State’s right and policies, which forbids such a burial for a traitor, who fought against the ‘home’ army. Thus, their conflict can be viewed as the clash between the rights of an individual and the rights of the State. Creon was firm in uploading the rights of the State, in which case, individual right has to be compromised. On the other hand, Antigone wanting to uphold a citizen’s individual right asks her sister Ismene, “What are Creon’s rights / When it comes to me and mine?” (Haney 2005). However, Creon’s firmness about State rights can be summed up in the statement “Personal loyalty always must give way / To patriotic duty,” (Haney 2005). Furthermore, Creon is clear that one who does not abide by this ruling has to be punished, even if it is his future daughter-in-law. In addition, Creon also warns others not to support or safeguard Antigone, failing which, they will also be considered as traitors. Through this stance, Creon implies to the citizens that they have to support the rights of the State, or if correctly said, his version of justice and rights. The ones who does not follow this form of skewed interpretation will also be considered as a traitor, and this view was clearly put forward by Haney in the Afterword of the book, “Creon puts it to the Chorus in these terms: Either you are a patriot, a loyal citizen, and regard Antigone as an enemy of the State because she does honor to her traitor brother, or else you yourselves are traitorous” (Haney 2005). Importantly this stance of Creon reflects the stance taken by George W Bush during the 2003 Iraq War. That is, as opposition and protests grew against the War, George W Bush in order to ‘diminish’ them or even discredit them, ‘painted in a single stroke’ the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein as a tyrant and those who does not support him in his removal as a traitor or supporter of Hussein. “Bush was using a similar strategy, asking, in effect: Are you in favor of State security or are you not? If you don’t support the eradication of this tyrant in Iraq and the threat he poses to the free world, you are on the wrong side in the war on terror.” (Adarlo 2005). Thus, it is clear, like how Creon warned anyone supporting Antigone against the State as a traitor, George W Bush also warned the American protestors of the war as the traitors of America. In addition, this stance puts forward the view that individual rights have to be put in the background, when the rights of the State needs to be focused and protected. References Adarlo, S 2005, The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Sophocles' Antigone by Seamus Heaney, viewed on April 8, 2011 http://www.bookslut.com/fiction/2005_05_005369.php Corcoran, N 2004, “The State we're in,” The Guardian, viewed on April 8, 2011 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/may/01/poetry.seamusheaney Dolan, A 2007, “Magistrate loses in court after daughter-in-law accuses him of assault,” Daily Mail Online, viewed on April 8, 2011 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-490767/Magistrate-loses-court-daughter-law-accuses-assault.html Haney, S 2005, The Burial at Thebes, Farrar, Straus and Giroux Spencer, C 2007, “The Burial at Thebes: dry as dust in the deserts of war,” The Telegraph, viewed on April 8, 2011 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/3668044/The-Burial-at-Thebes-dry-as-dust-in-the-deserts-of-war.html Read More