Sarah Deakin

Agons (With stichomythia)

What is an agon? It is like a debate. One character makes a big long speech and then the opposing character makes an equally long speech in contrast to what they said, often arguing. Often a war of words. In between there is often the Chorus making some form of bland, devil-advocate-esque, comment. The Chorus often does not side however, in Medea the female chorus sides with Medea whilst the male chorus sides with Jason. The drama of the law courts was now often brought into theatre, to continue with the drama. Stichomythia A quick and fast paced interchange or debate between two characters. Makes the pacing of the play go quicker and often makes the issues more heated and aggressive. Examples of Agons: Oedipus the King Page 182. There are two long speeches between Oedipus and Tiresias yet the chorus leader chips in giving a balanced view. Oedipus is very nasty, calls Tiresias a pious fraud. Agons often serve to highlight a weakness in a character, particularly a main character. In this, Oedipus starts out quite respectful of Tiresias yet he becomes nasty and quick tempered very quickly. Tiresias states that whilst Oedipus is the king, he has power too and says that Oedipus should respect him. But when Oedipus provokes him he then does reveal what he sought to conceal. Tiresias somewhat mocks him, says that he might be physically blind but he can see what Oedipus cannot. This agon is traditional and then on page 184 it runs into a stichomythic exchange of anger and aggression, a very typical progression. Antigone Page 93 to 94. We have a lot of lengthy dialogue before hand; the Chorus interjects with a sort of pointless view. They do sometimes make some sense and are just trying to keep some peace. The Chorus lets each character have their due. The bond between Antigone and Ismene is very much similar to the link between Creon and Haemon, very different views and are both quite strong on their views. There is a link with Hippolytus as there is a very similar style link between Theseus and Hippolytus as there is with Creon and Haemon. In this agon Haemon seems to take a softer approach and attempts to appeal to Creon, but says he will still do it anyway. He is buttering him up and then reveals what they are going to do. After they have had these big long speeches we then get some stichomythia, after all their thoughts and emotions and feelings we now get a clash of emotion. Hippolytus Page 65. Between Hippolytus and Theseus. The Chorus in this makes more of a general statement than that of an opposing one. Again we see a son attempting to appeal to a father (as in Antigone) Father the passion and intensity of your heart is

Sarah Deakin terrible (line 982). We even see a somewhat pitiable son. Hippolytus wants to prove that he is abstaining from sex and romance and women. Medea There are many examples of agons between Jason and Medea. In one she is quite angry but then in another it is quite clever as Medea manages to hide parts of her personalities in different agons, being very manipulative. The first time we see the true Medea with her anger but then the second time we see her talk to him she is manipulative and deceptive, telling Jason that she has forgiven him. The chorus in this does somewhat foreshadow what is going to happen.