Member-only story

Gospel Meets Greek Tragedy in Antigone in Ferguson: A Powerful Exploration of Justice, Race, and Resistance

Jett Powell

·9.2k Followers· Follow

Published in Gospel Meets Greek Tragedy In Antigone In Ferguson: A Remembered Chorus: Performance Art

6 min read

599 View Claps

50 Respond

Save

Listen

Antigone in Ferguson, a powerful and thought-provoking play by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, is a modern retelling of Sophocles' classic Greek tragedy Antigone. Set in the aftermath of the police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, the play explores the themes of justice, race, and resistance through the lens of the ancient Greek myth.

The play opens with a prologue set in a contemporary church, where a group of people are gathered to mourn the death of a young black man named Dante. The pastor delivers a eulogy that draws parallels between Dante's death and the story of Antigone, a young woman who defied the orders of King Creon to bury her brother Polyneices, who was killed fighting against the city of Thebes.

The play then shifts to a modern-day Ferguson, where Antigone is a young black woman who is determined to bury her brother Dante, who was shot and killed by a white police officer. Creon, the mayor of Ferguson, has declared that Dante's death was justified and that he will not be given a proper burial. Antigone defies Creon's orders and buries her brother, an act that leads to her arrest and imprisonment.

Gospel Meets Greek Tragedy In Antigone In Ferguson: A Remembered Chorus: Performance Art

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	23746 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	249 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

As the play progresses, Antigone is put on trial for her actions. She is defended by her sister Ismene, who argues that her sister was right to defy Creon's orders because she was following the higher law of the gods. Creon, however, argues that Antigone's actions were treasonous and that she must be punished for her crime.

The play culminates in a powerful and moving scene in which Antigone is led to her death. As she is taken away, she sings a song of resistance that echoes the songs of the civil rights movement.

Antigone in Ferguson is a powerful and moving play that explores the timeless themes of justice, race, and resistance. The play is a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America and a call to action for us all to work towards a more just and equitable world.

The play explores a number of complex and challenging themes, including:

Justice: The play raises questions about what justice means and who it is for. Antigone believes that she is acting justly by burying her brother, even though she knows that she is breaking the law. Creon, on the other hand, believes that he is acting justly by upholding the law, even though he knows that he is denying Antigone her right to bury her brother.
Race: The play also explores the role of race in the American criminal justice system. Antigone is a young black woman who is killed by the police, and her death is seen as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America. The play asks us to confront the racism that is still present in our society and to work towards a more just and equitable world.
Resistance: Finally, the play explores the theme of resistance. Antigone is a character who is willing to stand up for what she believes in, even when it means putting her own life at risk. The play asks us to consider the ways in which we can resist injustice and work towards a better world.

The play features a number of complex and well-developed characters, including:

Antigone: Antigone is the central character in the play. She is a young black woman who is determined to bury her brother Dante, even though she knows that she is breaking the law. Antigone is a strong and courageous character who is willing to stand up for what she believes in.
Ismene: Ismene is Antigone's sister. She is a more cautious character than Antigone, and she is initially reluctant to help her sister bury Dante. However, Ismene eventually comes to believe that Antigone is right, and she helps her sister to bury her brother.
Creon: Creon is the mayor of Ferguson. He is a powerful and authoritarian figure who is determined to uphold the law, even if it means denying Antigone her right to bury her brother. Creon is a complex character who is both sympathetic and flawed.
Haemon: Haemon is Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé. Haemon is a young man who is torn between his loyalty to his father and his love for Antigone. Haemon eventually sides with Antigone and helps her to bury Dante.

Antigone in Ferguson has received widespread critical acclaim. The play has been praised for its powerful storytelling, its complex and well-developed characters, and its timely and important themes. The play has been produced by a number of theater companies across the United States, and it has been met with positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.

Antigone in Ferguson is an excellent resource for teaching about a variety of topics, including:

Greek tragedy: The play is a modern retelling of Sophocles' classic Greek tragedy Antigone. The play can be used to teach students about the conventions of Greek tragedy and the ways in which these conventions can be used to explore contemporary issues.
Civil rights: The play explores the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America. The play can be used to teach students about the history of the civil rights movement and the ways in which we can continue to work towards a more just and equitable world.
Social justice: The play explores the themes of justice, race, and resistance. The play can be used to teach students about social justice issues and the ways in which they can get involved in the fight for social justice.

Antigone in Ferguson is a powerful and moving play that explores the timeless themes of justice, race, and resistance. The play is a timely and important reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America and a call to action for us all to work towards a more just and equitable world.

Gospel Meets Greek Tragedy In Antigone In Ferguson: A Remembered Chorus: Performance Art

5 out of 5