Lecture #2 on Antigone

    After watching the second micro-lecture, I realized how truly old this text really is. It was only by the 5th century that it was made into a script that could be bought and read by other people. Furthermore, they were mainly distributed through huge libraries in Athens to the people in order for them to read it. However, the thing I found to be most interesting was how the line "O dearest Haemon, how your father dishonors you!” which was originally said by Ismene, was later changed to be said by Antigone. At first, I was confused about how this could have happened and how a switch could have been made so easily. In the articles to follow the lecture it was explained how over the course of history, actors and directors interpreted the story differently and made artist decisions to change things. One of these changes must have been altering the speaker of this line. It was also stated that no editors had said they had made the correction and made it known, so as time went on other editors interpreted the text with their own bias and changed the speaker of the line as well.

    Michelle's question as to if Shamsie noticed this change and incorporated into Home Fire was a very good one. Did she decide to involve Aneeka, Isma, and Eammon in a love triangle because of this changed line? Did she, too, know about it and its deeper history? My prediction is that she most likely did assuming she did thorough research on Antigone prior to writing her more modern adaptation. She brings up some very solid questions that make me wish I could sit down with Shamsie myself and ask her.