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Microlecture on Antigone

 One thing I never really thought about was how impactful the speaker can be in a given context. This is highlighted in the microlecture as one line is picked out as an example. The line was supposed to be Ismene's line but was stolen and given to Antigone. This being Antigone's line drastically changes the plot. Giving certain characters specific lines is an intentional choice by the author of the piece because it allows the plot to unfold the way they want it to. In short, giving these characters these lines allows the reader to better understand the plot and each characters' motivations for making the choices they make. Another interesting thing I learned from the microlecture is how many different translations there are of Antigone. It surprised me how a slight alteration in the translation can lead to such a different outcome. Looking back at the line being changed from Ismene to Antigone, it makes sense because there are multiple different translations of the story. Since Antigone was largely recited orally, translations relied heavily on memory and interpretation. With so many different translations, there were variations which contributed to different story outcomes. As Neatline demonstrated, there were translations that were passed from country to country across Europe and Africa. This helped me understand why there are so many translations of Antigone. Antigone transcended language and cultural boundaries as it was interpreted into many different geographic and cultural areas. These different interpretations largely contributed to why there are so many different translations of Antigone today.

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