Historical Context
Antigone was written at a time of national fervor. In 441 BC, shortly after the play was released, Sophocles was appointed as one of the ten generals to lead a military expedition against Samos. It is striking that a prominent play in a time of such imperialism contains no political propaganda, no impassioned apostrophe, and, with the exception of the epiklerate (the right of the daughter to continue her dead father's lineage), and possibly the strong theme against anarchy, makes no contemporary allusion or passing reference to Athens. On the whole, the play betrays no patriotic interests whatsoever. Rather than become sidetracked with the issues of the time, Antigone remains completely focused on the characters and themes within the play.
Read more about this topic: Antigone (Sophocles)
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