Antigone by Sophocles.
Texts-The trial and death of Socrates by Plato, Apology pg. 20-43, Crito pg.. 43-55 Pretend that Antigone is on trial before a jury in either Thebes or Athens and Socrates is testifying as an expert witness either against her or on her behalf. Now, write Socrates’ courtroom testimony! As if it is Socrates who is writing your paper, argue either that Antigone is guilty of a serious crime and should be punished for it, or that her actions were justified and she should be freed. The testimony you write for Socrates should be closely based on his own beliefs and values as expressed in the Apology and Crito, and may include quotation from those works. You should also make use of the text of the play Antigone, to provide evidence for Socrates’ argument. Because you are writing from Socrates’ point of view, you may use the word “I” – but the “I” in this case is Socrates, not you the York College student. In other respects, this essay should be formatted like a normal argumentative essay, with an introduction (from Socrates’ point of view, like the rest of the essay) that ends with a thesis statement declaring either that Creon is right or that Antigone is right. Your goal in the paper is to have Socrates present a convincing case to the jury, just as Socrates presents a case to the jury in the Apology––but this time the person on trial is not Socrates himself, but Antigone. The highest graded papers will: Demonstrate close familiarity with Sophocles’ Antigone and the assigned Plato dialogues Show insight into the moral complexities of Antigone’s situation and Creon’s desire to punish her Demonstrate an understanding of Socrates’ specific worldview – his ideas, beliefs, and values, based on the assigned texts Use Socrates’ worldview as a framework for analyzing Antigone, drawing connections between his beliefs and the issues at stake for Antigone and Creon Bring up opposing evidence – i.e. textual support for the position you oppose – and address it, showing how this evidence is faulty or less convincing than the evidence on your side Show creativity in taking on the role of Socrates as he makes a case to the jury Follow my instructions as given in the long essay guidelines Detailed guidelines have been provided separately; please follow them. Your essay should be 3-4 double-spaced pages long and should be based on the assigned editions of the assigned texts without any secondary sources, whether from the Internet or elsewhere. Use the translations assigned (as listed on the syllabus and on reserve in the library)
