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.