Black Antigone by George Porter

Author:George Porter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Antigone, Sophocles, Greek Tragedy, Africa, Classical Greece, Ancient Greece, Theatre, Plays, Drama
ISBN: 9781909183070
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2012
Published: 2012-10-23T00:00:00+00:00

Haemon my love, your father slights you so!

CREON

Enough! You tire me with your wedding thoughts.

ISMENE

Creon -

Is it for certain that your son’s denied

The bond of love to which my sister’s pledged?

CREON

Death will snap this bond, their marriage cannot be.

LEADER

So that’s the price - Antigone must die?

CREON

Indeed - you know this fact as well as I.

To GUARDS

And now, you slaves, be quick and take them in.

They’re women, and as such from now they’ll act.

Secure them and ensure they don’t escape,

For courage even fails the bravest heart

When death’s dark shadow casts its awesome net.

CHORUS

Happy the men who don’t know trouble,

But when the gods have burst their bubble,

Life at the top is not the same,

Playing the generation game.

The same old story filters down,

From ancient king to modern crown,

The House of Oedipus is no exception,

His blood-soaked life is no deception,

The gods of death will swing the sword,

Slaughter is their just reward.

Zeus has got the final say,

Zeus is switched on night and day,

Zeus won’t let it go away,

Zeus’ law will make you pay,

Zeus is great, no man can be

As cool, as quick, as strong as he.

Dreamers trip on man substances,

Seeing things in many instances,

That make them think that they’re unstoppable,

That make them think their corks unpoppable.

Here comes, the young Prince Haemon,

Is he raging like a daemon?

Is he looking for a fight,

To try and test his father’s might?

Is he crying for Antigone?

Will he keep her as his bride-to-be?

Misery and woe, what a way to go!

Enter HAEMON

LEADER

Here’s Haemon now, your youngest son arrives,

Does grieving on his countenance display

The bitter fate carved for Antigone?

He’s cheated of his bride by destiny.

CREON

We’ll soon be told, better than seers could say.

Addresses HAEMON

Is it so my son, that you come to rave

With anger at the fate decreed your bride,

Or do I still retain your loyal heart,

No matter how my actions cause dismay?

HAEMON

I am your son, and moulded by your craft

The road I run is parallel to yours,

Your wisdom is a treasure far more bright

Than any marriage soiled by your disdain.

CREON

Well said, my son. Your heart pumps pure and true.

It’s right to set your resolution so.

His son’s obedience is a father’s prayer,

So enemies are dealt a double blow,

And friends are likewise honoured twice as much,

But fathers who are cursed with useless sons

Become the source of jest among their foes.

So never let a woman rule your head,

The heat of pleasure’s lust will soon turn cold

When in your bed an evil woman lies,

What hurt surpasses that of evil friends?

Spit out this girl as if a poisoned plant,

And let her find her match in Hades’ halls,

Because I caught this traitor in the act -

The city’s only rebel in this cause.

It’s not for me to take the liar’s role,

She’ll die!

Her screams for mercy to the Zeus of kin

Shall be to no avail, she’ll not be heard.

Were I to breed a nest of rebel snakes,

What worth would be my place in this world’s plan?

The man who runs an ordered house will find

He’s fit to be a ruler of the state -

And more!

This is the man to give and

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