What do we mean by the social context?
Social context is the environment of people that surrounds something. It shows how the people around that something use and interpret it. The social context of that thing also influences how something is viewed.
How did people live at the time Antigone was created?
At this time society in Athens was very male-dominated. Only men had the rights to be citizens and upper-class men were the only ones to enjoy a formal education. There were few political rights given to women as they were expected to stay at home and bear children. The Greeks also had salves, these were usually people who had be captured during the clashes that extended Greek influence overseas. One quarter of the population was made up of slaves. The salves were used to provide much of the manpower that fuelled the growing economy, they worked in shipyards, quarries, mines and as domestic servants. The houses were mostly modest and without widows. The homes were generally built around a central courtyard, furniture was rare. People spent most of their time out doors while enjoying the sun. Wealthy upper/middle-class people would attend markets or shows during their spare time. They main factors in their food was wine and bread
Social context is the environment of people that surrounds something. It shows how the people around that something use and interpret it. The social context of that thing also influences how something is viewed.
How did people live at the time Antigone was created?
Most homes were modest, windowless and wrapped around a courtyard. Furniture was rare. People spent the majority of the day out of doors enjoying the mild Mediterranean climate. The Greek diet was also modest, based largely on wine and bread. A typical day would start with bread dipped in wine, the same for lunch and a dinner of wine, fruits, vegetables and fish. Consumption of meat was reserved for special occasions such as religious holidays.
Who was the target audience for this piece?
The target audience for Antigone was mostly upper class, middle aged men. It is a story that pits the law of the gods—"unwritten law"—against the state laws of humankind, family ties against city duty's, and man against woman. These themes apply to upper class men. The story depicts one women who goes against the laws, laws that were put in place by a man (showing how they hold all the power in society). Many playwrights in Ancient Greece used their plays to comment on social and political concerns of their time. This is what Sophocles may have intended when he wrote Antigone. Sophocles may have been trying to send a message to the men in power about the dangers of authoritarian rule. These tragedies were written to be performed at the Great Dionysia (a festival in Honor of the god Dionysus, the god of fertility, theatre, and wine) in Athens. Attending these plays was considered a duty of the city, even criminals were let out of jail to attend. The audience often reflects on the issues raised in the plays that they watch. The play presents a realistic interpretation of society and turns this into a world of death, pain and hurt. Terisias is a character that prophecies great doom if they don't change thier ways, this relates to audience. As the play presents a realistic view of the society it links into reality, commenting on the fact that if change doesn't occur soon, the final outcome wont be good.
What were the needs, values and beliefs of the target audience?
Men held the power and were expected to do the important jobs such as being a politician, farmer or a fighter. Where as women were seen as people only fit for childbearing and household jobs. These patriarchies were a strong part of the audiences beliefs.
How did this influence the themes and characters of Antigone.
Antigone is very much about challenging these views as it the main character is a women. Not only a women but a strong minded independent women who goes again the authority of the king, and therefore men. By posing these ideas in his play, it gives the audience an opportunity to reflect on the society as they knew it.
What have you found out about the social context of Antigone? Think about what was going on at the time that Sophocles wrote the play.
Around the time of Sophocles there was another greek philosipher called Socrates. He seemes very much like the characters of Antigone, both hold onto the same values. Its possible Sophocles based Antigone on the story of Socrates. The gornment believed that Socrates didn't honour the gods enough and this angered the government, later causing them to sentenced him to death. This links to Antigone because although she died becuase she believed the city didn't honour the gods, her death was still caused by her beliefs in religion, just like Socrates.
Who was the target audience for this piece?
The target audience for Antigone was mostly upper class, middle aged men. It is a story that pits the law of the gods—"unwritten law"—against the state laws of humankind, family ties against city duty's, and man against woman. These themes apply to upper class men. The story depicts one women who goes against the laws, laws that were put in place by a man (showing how they hold all the power in society). Many playwrights in Ancient Greece used their plays to comment on social and political concerns of their time. This is what Sophocles may have intended when he wrote Antigone. Sophocles may have been trying to send a message to the men in power about the dangers of authoritarian rule. These tragedies were written to be performed at the Great Dionysia (a festival in Honor of the god Dionysus, the god of fertility, theatre, and wine) in Athens. Attending these plays was considered a duty of the city, even criminals were let out of jail to attend. The audience often reflects on the issues raised in the plays that they watch. The play presents a realistic interpretation of society and turns this into a world of death, pain and hurt. Terisias is a character that prophecies great doom if they don't change thier ways, this relates to audience. As the play presents a realistic view of the society it links into reality, commenting on the fact that if change doesn't occur soon, the final outcome wont be good.
What were the needs, values and beliefs of the target audience?
Men held the power and were expected to do the important jobs such as being a politician, farmer or a fighter. Where as women were seen as people only fit for childbearing and household jobs. These patriarchies were a strong part of the audiences beliefs.
How did this influence the themes and characters of Antigone.
Antigone is very much about challenging these views as it the main character is a women. Not only a women but a strong minded independent women who goes again the authority of the king, and therefore men. By posing these ideas in his play, it gives the audience an opportunity to reflect on the society as they knew it.
What have you found out about the social context of Antigone? Think about what was going on at the time that Sophocles wrote the play.
Around the time of Sophocles there was another greek philosipher called Socrates. He seemes very much like the characters of Antigone, both hold onto the same values. Its possible Sophocles based Antigone on the story of Socrates. The gornment believed that Socrates didn't honour the gods enough and this angered the government, later causing them to sentenced him to death. This links to Antigone because although she died becuase she believed the city didn't honour the gods, her death was still caused by her beliefs in religion, just like Socrates.
Who went to the theatre?
The theatre was made up entirely of men while the women stayed at home to do housework or other odd jobs. Men from all the different classes went to the theatre, however people of more higher class and status would sit at the front, such as priests or political leaders where as the public would sit further back away from the pit. Whole army groups also went to the theatre, they would sit and watch the show in these groups.
What was the relationship between theatre, politics and religion?
These three things were very closely linked, comedies often mocked politics and the people involved and the plays in general often raised questions about religion such as Antigone. Going to the theatre was as a semi religious thing as its said that plays evolved out of worship songs to the Greek god Dionysus. Before plays there is always a short ceremony to thank and worship Dionysus a good example is the festival of Dionysus (Great Dionysia) . The amphitheatres were also sometimes used for politics such as campaigning, the space was a universal one for all to use.
The theatre was made up entirely of men while the women stayed at home to do housework or other odd jobs. Men from all the different classes went to the theatre, however people of more higher class and status would sit at the front, such as priests or political leaders where as the public would sit further back away from the pit. Whole army groups also went to the theatre, they would sit and watch the show in these groups.
What was the relationship between theatre, politics and religion?
These three things were very closely linked, comedies often mocked politics and the people involved and the plays in general often raised questions about religion such as Antigone. Going to the theatre was as a semi religious thing as its said that plays evolved out of worship songs to the Greek god Dionysus. Before plays there is always a short ceremony to thank and worship Dionysus a good example is the festival of Dionysus (Great Dionysia) . The amphitheatres were also sometimes used for politics such as campaigning, the space was a universal one for all to use.
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