In 1853, Matthew Arnold wrote that it was "no longer possible that we should feel a deep interest in the Antigone of Sophocles." One hundred and fifty years later, how true is that for a western audience?
What are the issues in Antigone that have relevance in our world?
The first thing that came to my mind is that we're about sixty years past being able to excuse ourselves for not doing something that we ought to do, or doing something we know to be immoral, on the grounds that we are only following the dictates of the state.
Hard to believe there would be no contemporary relevance. I don't know how political you want to get here, and I don't want to step on anyone's toes, so I'll be as delicate as I can. (Warning: I'm not very subtle, even when I try.)
I've enjoyed reading Antigone. For one, I was relieved when I saw it at the library...a thin paperback...whew! The Oddyssey was completely worth the time spent, but didn't know if I could rise to the occassion again so soon. As you may recall, EYE was the one who voted against Antigone (well, both choices, really) because it was so dark. Thanks, Deb, for pushing me into this. It's a fantastic read and, as my husband and I discussed, very relevant.
My husband doesn't talk books. (He reads textbooks and the kids' books, but otherwise I haven't seen him read "for fun" in years.) We don't generally talk religion or politics either because he sees such debate (which is inevitable on these topics...how DID we end up together?) as useless waste of breath. So imagine my joy when, as we took an hour's drive Friday, he actually DISCUSSED the book with me. He LISTENED as I read parts of it aloud! (The only real argument we've ever had was over poetry - he despises it, he says, yet loves Shakespearean plays...I, of course, love to point out to him that most of his favorites are, yes, poetry.)
But what finally spurred me to speak was, "Whoever the state appoints must be obeyed, in little things or in great things, right or wrong." WHEW! DH bit, and we had quite a discussion about when to follow and the value of thinking for oneself, "leaders" in history who clearly were out of line, but whose people followed them to the bitter end.
Then I read on, "I would have confidence that such a man would be as good a ruler as a subject and in a hail of spears would stand his ground where he was put, a comrade you could trust." RIIIIIIGHT! In the 2,500 YEARS since this was written, haven't we had more than a fair share of "state appointed" leaders who were obeyed (right or wrong) only to flee when the going got tough? Where was Hitler in the end? Out on the battle field? OH NO he was NOT!
And of course for his benefit (and to lighten the discussion a bit) I read, "And so we must stand up for law and order, not let oursevles be worsted by a woman. If yeild we must, then let us yield to a man. Let no-one call us woman's underlings." To which my husband gave a hearty "Hear Hear" (then asked which exit to take). ;)
And that was just a BIT of what I found all TOO relative to today's world.
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Jen in Orcutt, Calif.
www.BestFamilyAdventures.com
