Star Wars vs. Antigone (Sophocles)

Hey everyone, today in my Mythology class the teacher handed us out a large packet on Star Wars and we are to relate it to the greek tragedy "Antigone." I just wanted to get you guys in on the discussion a bit and it finally gives me reason to start a thread here. She had us watch RotJ and we are to write a "timed-essay" for her tommorow.

Morality

The Force represents morality in this case. The lightside represents "morality" while the darkside represents "false morality." Luke uses the lightside of the Force to combat the darkside of the Force (morality vs. false morality). In Antigone she uses her morality to battle Creon's false morality.

Tragic Hero

In other words, the "one who learns a lesson." Surely this is Vader and Creon.

I know that I didn't get much in but it's dinner time and if I wrote down everything in my notes there wouldn't be much to discuss.

-ForceGhost-ObiWan

 

Just so you know, we take all threats quite seriously around here.

 

Ooops, typo.

 

I fixed it so as not to frighten Halcyon.

BTW, I can't speak to Antigone, because I haven't read it; but Sophocles' Oedipus Rex has some STAR WARS undertones, or vice versa.

 

True, one of the morals of Antigone is the impact of the repetition and continuation of past errors. Creon is arrogant, selfish and rash, just like Anakin (and early on, Luke). One thing I've always found interesting about GL's story writing is that he, for the most part, is not optimistic about human history and one of the other morals of Antigone is the fact it's so freaking pessimistic.

Of course, all the suicides in Antigone are out of place in regards to the OT and PT. Antigone herself in the cave, Antigone's fiance, Haemon and even Creon's wife. Creon is Antigone's father in law and, of course, Antigone is Oedipus' daugther, so there's that whole creepy family connotation as well.

One thing to make you chuckle out loud...

Oedipus = Luke & Leia's kiss in ESB LOL!!!

 

Yeah, the whole family tree is screwed up.

More specifically Jocasta and Oedipus, and both stories also have to do with fate as Oedipus was unable to escape his yet is there really truly such a thing as destiny in Star Wars? Was Anakin's turn truly unavoidable? I guess it was his destiny to destroy the Sith but was he also supposed to become Darth Vader in the process?

 

One of the major similarities here are the relationships within a family. A son killing his father (whether intentionally or unintentionally.) Two siblings unknowingly pursuing romance. These odd interactions between members of the same family. The romance and the death.

That seems to be a common thread.
I haven't read Sophocles in a while.

-Seldon

 

Another thing is the idea of the "branching path" in Oedipus Rex. It has a specific name that I can't quite remember, but it's basically a literal "intersection" of roads that Oedipus is confronted with before he makes his tragic mistakes.

In ROTS, as Anakin (Vader) is about to enter the Jedi temple with all the clones, you can see this same branching path in the design of the terrace (during the high-angle shot from above).