Relevance of the introductory scenes in "Antigone" and "Oedipus the King"

"The people gathered here are about to act the story of Antigone" This is the opening declaration to Jean Anouilh's adaptation of the Greek mythology "Antigone" and a part of the introductory scene. The author uses an informative technique in the form of the prologue to provide historical information on the plot (its origins) and on the characters in the play. A prologue is defined as the introductory lines of a play, speech or poem, …

…actions in the play are as a result of her personal convictions. She refuses to take realities and is immersed in her little world where her actions are justified by her alone, instead of enjoying the pleasures of life. In conclusion, an understanding and underlying enrichment of the text is given by the employment of the introductory scene in the form of the Prologue and Chorus. Thus the significance of such devices can be seen.