The Role of Gods in Antigone and Electra

In classic Greek literature, the deities of the period were often represented in various different manners, from insignificant to much more substantial. Minor roles might simply have consisted of a character or chorus mentioning a particular god in speech, possibly by impulse, or insinuations throughout a play that the gods were actively involved in current events or the potential consequences thereof. More important parts might have been the physical appearance of multiple deities throughout a play, interacting with mortals, or entire scenes being dedicated to their activities in heaven. The role played by gods will be examined in two specific Greek tragedies: Sophocles’ Antigone (translated by David Grene) and Euripides’ Electra (translated by Emily T. Vermeule). Questions to consider will include the following: How substantial a role, when compared to important events in the tragedy, was attributed to the divine? Was their appearance and interaction actually as significant as may be claimed by the mortal? Are there any other possible interpretations of these events?

With respect to Sophocles’ Antigone, the contribution of the gods to the events of the story may be open to largely different interpretations, ranging from indirect influence to constant involvement. Taking the story at face value, it can be seen that while the direct interaction of the gods was nonexistent, their indirect effect on the stated beliefs and actions of the main characters influenced the events of the entire play. The character of Antigone was portrayed throughout the tragedy as being clear of mind, always certain not only that honoring the divine was the proper course to take in any situation, but also of how exactly to pay respect to them: “I know I am pleasing those I should please most” (88).