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Similarities Between Antigone And Jean Anouilh

Decent Essays

Essay #2 Option 1
11/27/17
Sophocles and Jean Anouilh use simplistic storytelling in order to discuss the events and societal norms of the times when they were writing Antigone. When the tales are stripped down to their key stories, they both are about a defiant girl who goes against her uncle in order to do what she believes is morally right. In regard to the definition of tragedy, Sophocles follows the Greek standard of tragedy. By making Creon the tragic hero who is plagued by his own ego and unchanging ways when it comes to power. Anouilh puts a twist on the Greek tragedy by putting the focus on Antigone and not having the typical tragic hero who is unattached from the audience. Instead, Antigone is a heroine with everyday imperfections and emotions which seek to inspire people to condemn the French’s relationship with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Sophocles makes Creon the tragic hero. He can be seen as the traditional Greek tragic hero since he falls from a noble position of power and loses those closest to him. He is egocentric and ends up being defeated by his rigid sense of pride. He believes his authority is absolute and should therefore never be disobeyed. This is shown when he says, “But when the city takes a leader, you must obey” (Sophocles 666). With this, he expects full allegiance from his family, especially from his own son. His attitude exemplifies that he is filled with hubris. In terms of Greek tragedy, hubris is a cockiness that offends

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