Antigone

Choose two themes and discuss how each theme is similar or different to a theme in the other plays.

One theme shown throughout Anouilh's Antigone is strength within women. Antigone is the main character who displays strength within women and how women should fight for their beliefs just the same as men do. This is shown in Medea as well because no matter what happens, Medea does not sway with her decision to ruin Jason's life. She becomes strong enough to stand up for herself and express how she feels when she feels that Jason has betrayed her. However, in Oedipus the King, Jocasta displays herself as weak. She does not want to hear the truth about Oedipus because she is afraid, so she kills herself. There is also a part of Antigone where weakness in a woman is shown. Eurydice cannot deal with the death of her son, Haemon, so she kills herself. Although there are some examples of weakness in women, a motif of strength within women is more prominent.
Happiness is also a theme which appears throughout Anouilh's Antigone. It is portrayed differently for each character. This also appears the same way throughout Sophocles' Antigone. In Oedipus the King, happiness is talked about, but is really only associated with Oedipus. People continue to talk about how he was destined for misery and Oedipus addresses how he and his children will never experience joy. Happiness is also addressed in Medea in the same way as in Oedipus the King in the way that Medea is also miserable. She then destroys all happiness for those who betrayed her.

Antigone: Word Choice

• During Creon and Antigone's argument Anouilh repeats many words and ideas. Choose a word or idea and discuss how Anouilh uses the term.
  
• Sometimes Anouilh uses ambiguous terms, identify how the terms affect your interpretation of characters and their motivations.

One word that Anouilh uses constantly during Creon and Antigone's argument is happiness. Both Antigone and Creon argue about what true happiness is. "Life flows like water, and young people let it run away through your fingers" (Anouilh 41). Creon believes that life is what gives people happiness, and that people should live life fore happiness, even if you may have to sacrifice some of your wants to get happiness. However, Antigone's idea of happiness is extremely different. "I spit on your happiness! I spit on your idea of life- that life that must go on, come what may" (Anouilh 42). Antigone does not necessarily believe that one has to be living to be happy. She believes that people should be happy to sacrifice themselves for a cause that they believe in, that they should not be afraid to lose their lives for something so important to them. Antigone does not believe in sacrificing her wants and beliefs for anything.

Anouilh makes terms such as happiness ambiguous because each character has a different interpretation of what it means to them. Because of this, the reader is allowed more insight into the personality and beliefs of each character. It also allows the reader more insight into Anouilh's interpretation of who each character is. For example, using the quote from Antigone from above, the reader is able to see that Anouilh thinks that she will not sacrifice her beliefs and wants for anything.

Antigone

Think about the character you will be performing. What motivates him/her? What role does this motivation play? Use evidence from the play to defend your response.

In Anouilh's version of Antigone, Creon is motivated by his reputation. He doesn't want anyone to know that someone has dared to break his rules. "You are all guilty of neglect of duty, and you will be punished; but if the rumor spreads through Thebes that the body received burial, you will be shot- all three of you" (Anouilh 22). Creon does not want anyone to step all over him. He wants to make sure that he stays known as the king who no one can take advantage of or sway some other way than his own way. This motivation makes him come across as tyrranical, power-hungry, and uncaring. "Sir, I've got two kids" (Anouilh 22). The guard tries to convince Creon not to execute him because it couldn't have been him, but Creon insists that he is either brought the traitor or the guard dies. Even when the guard tells Creon about his family, Creon does not care.

Antigone

One thing that is different in Anouilh's version of Antigone is that it is written with more modern language. "So we tossed a coin to see which one would come up and tell you about it" (Pg. 20). This causes the reader of the modern world to be able to relate to the characters more, therefore creating a modern day tragedy.

Anouilh also uses the gender roles like Sophocles, except in a more straight forward way. "It's all very well for men to believe in ideas and die for them. But you are a girl!" (Pg. 13). There is a clear stereotype of women not being able to do certain things, but Antigone defies these stereotypes. In a way, this raises her above the other characters, contributing to the idea of tragedy.

Another similar element between Anouilh's Antigone and Sophocles' Antigone is that Anouilh displays Creon's attitude in the same way. On page 21, Creon keeps interrupting the guard and hurrying him along, acting very disrespectful. He acts very power hungry and irrationally, and this ultimately brings about his downfall and is an interesting contrast to the person he used to be. In many ways, he is like Oedipus. This can also cause the reader to feel either no sympathy for him, or some sympathy for him because they know that this irrational behavior will only bring him pain and suffering, and he will regret it later.

Not only does Anouilh use more modern language throughout his version of Antigone, but he also adds in extra things in order to make the story more modern and therefore more relatable to the modern reader. "Promise me that you will never scold her again" (Pg. 15). Anouilh adds Antigone's dog Puff into the story, which makes the story more relatable because many people now have pets. When these sorts of small details are added into the story, the characters become more relatable.

Journal 12

What do you know about the 1940s in Europe and how do you predict that will influence Anouilh's version of Antigone?

World War II was going on in Europe in the 1940s. During this time, because all of the men were away fighting, the women played a much bigger role in the work force. Because of this, the gender roles in Anouilh's version of Antigone could be influenced. The women even in just the first pages that we have read already show signs of independence from others in general. For example, Antigone goes out by herself to do something without telling anyone else. It will be interesting to see how the gender roles differ in Anouilh's version of Antigone.

Journal 11

Antigone:
"I'll hate you all the more for silence- tell the world!" (Pg. 64).
"No, he has no right to keep me from my own" (Pg. 61).

Physical Description: Red hair, in her teens or older, slim

Personality: fiery and bold personality but still acts morally

Actress: Kate Blanchett (made to look younger) based on her performance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; she seems like she can act with a very strong-minded personality, but still act morally as well

Ismene:
"So fiery- and it ought to chill your heart" (Pg. 64).
"I'd do them no dishonor... but defy the city? I have no strength for that" (Pg. 63).

Physical Description: younger than Antigone, brown or dirty blonde hair, slim, in her teens or a bit older

Personality: very innocent, very attached to her sister, follows the rules and fearful of the consequences of not following the rules

Actress: Alexis Bledel; she plays Rory in Gilmore Girls and her character is extremely innocent, afraid of breaking the rules, very attached to her mother; she plays this part perfectly

Haemon:
"No marriage could ever mean more to me than you" (Pg. 93).
"It's no city at all, owned by one man alone" (Pg. 97).

Physical Description: brown hair, slim but muscular build, young

Personality: obedient to his father, although he disagrees with him at times; his father is the most important thing to him

Acter: Zac Efron; he has played characters in the past who have been very loyal to their parents, but sometimes disagrees with them and goes against what they want, he was successful in these roles

Creon:
"And is Thebes about to tell me how to rule?" (Pg. 97).
"What? The city is the king's- that's the law!" (Pg. 97).

Physical Description: older, tall, intimidating by his build and his height

Personality: intimidating also in his personality, tyrranical, doesn't listen to others or want input from others, always wants to do things himself and for himself

Actor: Vin Diesel; he can be intimidating in the way he looks and in the movie The Pacifier, his personality is intimidating as well

Leader:
"You'd do well, my lord, if he's speaking to the point, to learn from him, and you, my boy, from him" (Pg. 96).
"A temper young as his... hurt him once, he may do something violent" (Pg. 100).

Physical Description: average looking, slim build, brown hair

Personality: gives advice, seems to be the knower of everything

Actor: Adam Sandler; in some of the movies he does like Mr. Deeds his character helps others

Sentry:
"But set me free, it's only right- I'm rid of this dreadful business once for all" (Pg. 79).
"There. Is that plain and clear?" (Pg. 79).

Physical Description: seems to be just another citizen of Thebes, slim build, nothing really special about him, maybe even almost weak

Personality: only cares about the consequences that will affect himself, kind of rude shown above in the way he speaks to Creon, almost like Creon is stupid

Actor: Charlie Sheen; in Two and a Half Men, he plays an extremely selfish and rude character, and does it well, making him perfect for this part

Journal 10

Knowledge Level (The recall of specific information):

What is Antigone caught doing?

What is the fate that Creon decides for Antigone?

Comprehension Level (An understanding of what was read):

Why does Antigone bury Polynices against Creon's orders?

Why does Ismene ask to be executed as well even though she did not take part in the crime?

Application Level (The converting of abstract content to concrete situations):

What does the burial of Polynices reveal about the character and nature of Antigone?

Does the similarity of actions between Creon and Oedipus foreshadow Creon's downfall?

Analysis (The comparison and contrast of the content to personal experiences):

What does the motif of strength reveal about society?

How do the gender roles reveal a truth in society?

Synthesis (The organization of thoughts, ideas, and information from the content):

How do the series of actions of both Antigone and Ismene reveal their differences from one another?

How do Creon's actions compare with Oedipus' actions?

Evaluation (The judgment and evaluation of characters, actions, outcomes, etc…):

Should Haemon turn against Creon because he is going to kill Haemon's wife?

Is it morally right to tell even family that they cannot bury or honor another family member?

Journal 9

3 literary techniques and their effect from you reading:

Pg. 61: lines 54-60: There is a contrast in the characters Antigone and Ismene. Antigone appears to be stronger and bolder than Ismene, and it seems that this could bring about her downfall because she refuses to obey Creon's new law that states that no one should bury or mourn their brother, Polynices.

Pg. 64: lines 105-106: There is a motif of strength throughout the beginning of the reading. This reveals the character of Antigone, and how she will do what is morally right to her no matter what, even if that means she will be put to death. This sets the stage of what to expect from Antigone from now on.

Pg. 75: Creon treats Sentry how Oedipus treated Teiresias in Oedipus the King. Since Oedipus brought about his own downfall, and Creon is showing similar characteristics to Oedipus right before he realized the truth, it gives the feeling that Creon will find out a truth about himself. Furthermore, it gives the feeling that Creon could possibly bring about his own downfall in this play.

Journal 8

Compare the elements of tragedy in Medea and Oedipus. Look specifically at at the use of catharsis. Pay attention to how you organize your comparison. Be sure you start with a thesis/topic sentence.

Both Medea and Oedipus the King cause the audience to feel a deep pity for the main characters Medea and Oedipus. The audience feels pity for Oedipus because he does not realize that his horrible fate has come true, and the audience feels pity for Medea because her husband left her, and this caused her to kill his new bride, his bride's father, and Medea's two sons. She ended up losing everything she had left. Both characters ultimately bring about their own downfall. They are simply the victims of fate and free will. Oedipus' parents tried to avoid his fate of killing his father and marrying his mother, but theirs and Oedipus' free will led him to that fate. Medea's free will along with her fate led her to kill or lose every person she held dear. Both characters also seem to raise themselves above everyone else, contributing even more to the idea of tragedy.
Lastly, both characters are motivated by either pride or anger. This causes the audience to be fearful that these same emotions could motivate them to bring about their own downfall as well. The important part is that the audience is able to compare and relate themselves to the main characters.

Medea: Journal 7

Although Medea and Jason both have very different attitudes towards the gods, the thing that they share in common is that they both have very close relationships with the gods. Medea and Jason call on the gods all throughout the play, showing the close relationship that they both share with them. However, both call on the gods differently. Medea chooses her relationships to be with the gods who preside over magic, wickedness, and other such things. "I shall not shrink from such a step, by Hecate, no: the goddess who abides in the shrine of my inner hearth- the one I reverence most of all the gods and have chosen to abet me" (Page 45). Hecate is the goddess who presides over magic and witchcraft, and Medea reveres her the most. This reveals the true nature of Medea. She seems to be evil and manipulative.
Jason, on the other hand, begs the gods to look upon what Medea did to her sons. He begs them to see her true nature and how evil she really is. "Zeus, do you hear how I'm at bay, dismissed by this ogress, odious woman, tigress besmirched with the blook of her young?" (Page 77). Jason seems to assume the position as a mere mortal to the gods, someone who can be manipulated by the emotions of the gods. This appears different from Medea, who seems to beg to the gods very little for anything. This then gives off the impression that Medea is almost an equal alongside the gods. This fits in with the end of the story, when she turns Jason's life into misery from the revenge from her anger. He seems to be just as much manipulated by Medea as he is by the gods. This idea of Medea being at a higher level than Jason or anyone else contributes to the idea of tragedy.