Stasimon in Antigone
I
The Chorus wonders on human nature, using the analogy of movement through a stormy
ocean in order to learn how to become more resourceful. Men now have power over almost
everything except death. Man has learned to conquer everything, but this ability to be
inventive only serves him when he lives within the bounds of law and justness; if he uses it
for evil or disobedience he will be punished by the gods.
This is also considered to be an ode to mankind, although it also gives a warning of too much
power over nature. Man can invent and dream, but this practice can lead him down the path
to either good or evil. What's important, the Chorus notes, is to treat "laws with due respect
and [honor] justice by swearing on the gods." Their warning foreshadows the fate of Creon,
who ignores the laws of the gods but makes sure his laws are obeyed. The sea imagery
presented here also recalls Creon's "ship-of-state" metaphor in that man must steer himself
across times that feel precarious and violent.
II
The Chorus sings about divine curses and destiny and warns that when gods intervene
disaster can befall entire generations of families. They use the metaphor of an ocean which is
constantly swelling and falling. They note that this is what has happened to Oedipus's family,
with its ever-increasing tragedies and sorrows—they are being punished unceasingly by the
gods from generation to generation. The Chorus warns that even though mortals may try to
appease the gods, ultimately they are at the gods' mercy.
The Chorus again uses nature imagery to compare the disaster that befalls men through divine
justice with natural disasters. Men are powerless against the intervention of the gods. Even
the language that the Chorus uses here is full of dark and violent imagery, with its depiction
of nature as merciless in response to human pride. It provides another warning of the
consequences of Creon's attempt to steer his state against the judgments of the gods.
The Chorus brings up the futility of fate as the gods have decreed it. To be born into
Oedipus's family is to be doomed, no matter what decisions its members might make. The
gods are the ultimate deciders of Antigone’s fate. But the Chorus also seems to be
foreshadowing that Creon now risks angering the gods by setting his laws above theirs.
III
The Chorus invokes Eros, the god of love, to come to Haemon's aid since they fear the son
has been driven mad by his father's decision to kill his bride. Love is an emotion that can't be
controlled, they say, and is the source of this particular conflict. The Chorus also cautions that
to interfere with love the way that Creon has may invoke the wrath of the goddess of love,
Aphrodite.
The Chorus's invocation of Eros provides an observation about the power of love over men,
which drives them to make irrational decisions. It's interesting to note that Haemon does not
use his love of Antigone as a reason why his father shouldn't kill her, so the Chorus brings the
issue up for him. They also seem to be siding with Haemon here, pointing out the injustice
that Creon is inflicting upon people who cannot control their love for each other.
I
The Chorus wonders on human nature, using the analogy of movement through a stormy
ocean in order to learn how to become more resourceful. Men now have power over almost
everything except death. Man has learned to conquer everything, but this ability to be
inventive only serves him when he lives within the bounds of law and justness; if he uses it
for evil or disobedience he will be punished by the gods.
This is also considered to be an ode to mankind, although it also gives a warning of too much
power over nature. Man can invent and dream, but this practice can lead him down the path
to either good or evil. What's important, the Chorus notes, is to treat "laws with due respect
and [honor] justice by swearing on the gods." Their warning foreshadows the fate of Creon,
who ignores the laws of the gods but makes sure his laws are obeyed. The sea imagery
presented here also recalls Creon's "ship-of-state" metaphor in that man must steer himself
across times that feel precarious and violent.
II
The Chorus sings about divine curses and destiny and warns that when gods intervene
disaster can befall entire generations of families. They use the metaphor of an ocean which is
constantly swelling and falling. They note that this is what has happened to Oedipus's family,
with its ever-increasing tragedies and sorrows—they are being punished unceasingly by the
gods from generation to generation. The Chorus warns that even though mortals may try to
appease the gods, ultimately they are at the gods' mercy.
The Chorus again uses nature imagery to compare the disaster that befalls men through divine
justice with natural disasters. Men are powerless against the intervention of the gods. Even
the language that the Chorus uses here is full of dark and violent imagery, with its depiction
of nature as merciless in response to human pride. It provides another warning of the
consequences of Creon's attempt to steer his state against the judgments of the gods.
The Chorus brings up the futility of fate as the gods have decreed it. To be born into
Oedipus's family is to be doomed, no matter what decisions its members might make. The
gods are the ultimate deciders of Antigone’s fate. But the Chorus also seems to be
foreshadowing that Creon now risks angering the gods by setting his laws above theirs.
III
The Chorus invokes Eros, the god of love, to come to Haemon's aid since they fear the son
has been driven mad by his father's decision to kill his bride. Love is an emotion that can't be
controlled, they say, and is the source of this particular conflict. The Chorus also cautions that
to interfere with love the way that Creon has may invoke the wrath of the goddess of love,
Aphrodite.
The Chorus's invocation of Eros provides an observation about the power of love over men,
which drives them to make irrational decisions. It's interesting to note that Haemon does not
use his love of Antigone as a reason why his father shouldn't kill her, so the Chorus brings the
issue up for him. They also seem to be siding with Haemon here, pointing out the injustice
that Creon is inflicting upon people who cannot control their love for each other.
