Antigone: stage directions

Understanding Stage Directions in Antigone

Origins of Stage Directions

Greek playwrights, including Sophocles, didn’t customarily write stage directions in their plays.
The textual stage directions we read today are believed to be later inclusions by translators or editors.

Setting in Antigone

Antigone is set in Thebes, specifically outside the royal palace that has double doors, signifying the public and private space.
The Altar of Zeus is another important setting that appears as a place of refuge for Antigone.

Use of Space and Movement

Characters often enter from either side of the stage, symbolising different notions. For example, entrance from the left (from the audience’s perspective) often signifies arrival from foreign lands or battleground.
Several instances where upstage and downstage movements are used to create a visual depth in understanding the narrative.

Symbolism in Stage Directions

The corpse of Polynices, which is not physically present on stage but is described in the verses, is an important symbol in the play. Emphasis is made on his body being left ‘unburied’ which incites Antigone’s actions.
Frequent reference to ‘day’ and ‘night’ and transitions from light to dark.

Costume and Props in Antigone

Characters like Antigone and Creon are likely to be dressed in traditional Greek attire, visually representing their roles and statuses.
Important props such as Antigone’s bridal veil which she dons before she goes to her death, signifies her being wedded to death.

Remember, scrutinising stage directions in ‘Antigone’ helps understand the play’s entire visual universe, just like how understanding the play’s ‘FORM’ reveals deeper meanings in the narrative. Explore how the stage directions and use of stage space contribute to the play’s theme, character development, and overall contextual understanding.