The State is the King: A Marxist Approach to Sophocles’ Antigone

Abstract

Marxist approach enunciates that economic and sociopolitical realities are the actual factors that outline the human experience and the economy has a pivotal role to play in all aspects of life. Marxism also concentrates upon the conception that individual experiences are based upon the socioeconomic systems which also shape the behavior of the groups. It questions the perception that gaining and retaining political and economic power is the motivating drive behind all political and social activities. In other words, economics lays the foundation of social, political, and ideological realities. It also affects human perception and develops a perspective. Antigone is a major tragedy by Sophocles. Sophocles has discussed the perception of human nature throughout his plays and he has dealt with various aspects of human life. Likewise, many critics have analyzed his plays from a myriad of lenses and perspectives. Eagleton (1976) also emphasizes the convoluted interrelationships between the socio-economic base and the social institutions and values (including literature) which make the superstructure. Winnington Ingram (1980) also acknowledges the obscurity in deriving meaning in Antigone. Several critics have focused their attention on its sociopolitical aspects, which include the desirable degree of respect to established law, and the relationship based on gender, and preference of the duties toward the family on the duty to social laws. The present study aims at exploring the considerations (mainly economic, and political) behind the perpetuation of authority and exhibiting the role of gender and class in the hegemony of the domineering over the meek in the play, Antigone, and also tries to uncover the role of ideology in fashioning the attitude of the subjugated to be tyrannized and how the oppressor subdues the mindfulness of the outranked. The study also intended to corroborate that Sophocles antedated the Marxist principles.