Compairing themes

Theme: Ignorance does not bring happiness, and happiness is not what should be the goal of life.

This theme is communicated in an obvious way in Antigone, particularly in Anouilh's verson of Antigone. It is done through the way she almost denounces happiness, claiming that it is not all there is to life. she offends creon who belives that happiness is the goal of life, "life is nothing more than the happiness you get out of it"(41). This subject can be seen in Sophocles's Oedipus. Oedipus is similar to antigone in that he questions everything, like he is seeking for knowlege of everything and follows his passion. everybody didnt want Oedipus to know his past(his wife/mother, the farmer), and people dont want Antigone to follow her passion(Chorus, Creon). Oedipus could have just ignored his past, or not cared and then he would be happy, but he didnt.

Theme: fate controls peoples lives, not just what they do.

This theme is especially prominant in Oedipus, seeing as how the gods predicted all that he would do. no matter how he tryed to counter it, or the people around him did, the events did unfold. this message is somwhat different in medea. there is no prediction or prophasy as to her actions, only what is assumed by the people. the reson for this is most likely becasue Medea sees herself(many do) as a godess, which in tern means that she determines her own fate.

Antigone jornal #6: word choice in Anouilh

life
one of the ideas that Anouilh discussed was the idea of life and what the point of it is. creon seems to think that the point of life is to attain happiness, "life is nothing more than the happiness you get out of it"(41). Creon thinks that the only way that people can attain happiness is to remain ignorant, as clearly pointed out by Antigone, "Whom do you want me to leave dying, while i turn away my eyes?"(41). she is making it seem like the Creon turns away from what is painful or "dying" in order to find happiness. the fact that Creon uses the metephor of a child in order to display happyness adds to this idea of ignorace is bliss, since children are happy mainly because they do not know the evils of the world, "life is like a child playing around your feet"(41). he also seems to want Antigone to stay a little girl forever, and doesnt want her to grow as an adult so that she may be happy(in his eyes). this makes creon see almost stupid and tyranical because he most likely wants the public to be happy and remain blissful, which would involve not letting them make any dicisions or forming any opinions. he keeps the secret of polineces from the people, whats to keep him from keeping more? Antigone remains the heroin as she "spits" at creons idea of happiness. she states that happiness is something that is attained through knowlege and passion as seen by how she wants to ask questions and not just accept everything that she is told, "if he too has to learn to say yes to eveything--why, no, then , no! i do not love Haemon!"(42). by use of ambiguous terms that could mean multiple things to multiple people, like happiness and life, Anouih charicterizes antigone as passionate and quesioning and charicterizes Creon as tyranical.

act: Haemon

Haemon is a charicter who is motivated at first to be loyal to his father, and too please him, "no marriage could ever mean more to me than you, whatever good direction you may offer"(93). this primary motivation stays as an underlieing one, for the begining part of his talk with Creon anyway, as can be shown by how he doddles around the point, and trys to not offend Creons pride. he says things like, "its no disgrace for a man, even a wise man, to learn many things and not to be too ridgid"(96). he could have just said it flat out, or in an agressive matter. he could have said somthing like, "you need to learn better, because your ways are wrong. dont be stubbon!". eventually his mood shifts as creon and Haemon argue back and forth, and creon discovers Haemons true motivation and opinion, "this boy, i do believe, is fighting on her side, the womans side"(97). haemon even makes his opinion and motivation perfectly clear, "Its no city at all, owned by one man alone"(97). haemon had a clear motivation to save antigonie, since he suggests that he will die if antigonie does, "then she will die...but her death will kill another"(99). he is motivated by love, and resentment to his fathers method of rule and unjust punishment. this motivation plays a significant role in the play because it displays a clear bond between antigonie and haemon. this adds to the drama and sadness of the play, as well as sympathy for both haemon and antigonie.

Antigone jornal #5: lit tech in Anouilh

1. Foil (Ismene vs. Antigone): Antigone is pointed out from the begining as a different type of person. she is described as somone who was "the first out of bed because she loved the touch of the cold morning air on her barre skin"(12) and is basically represented as a lover of nature and somone who isnt like the other girls in their beauty or manor. Ismene says that other girls and boys stare at her. Ismene is shown as somone who is beautiful, who fears death, and especially somone who always follows orders. this contrast between the two emphasizes eachothers traits, and makes it easyer to predict how each of the people will behave or respond.

2. parallel structure: it is used mainly in two paragraghs. the first describes how creons towns people will react to Antigone burying the body that is forbidden to bury. there is repitition within the sentence of the topic(Ex: "a thousand arms will seize our arms"(12)). it is also used by antigone when she questions haemons love for her, the difference is that the word lying is used constantly as the topic of three questions (ex. "your arms around me arent lying, are they(17)). this is done to make the flow seem more thurough and/or efficient.

3. Simile: there is one example of a similie that has a significant effect on the charicterization of Creon. as the guard speaks to him, "Its nearly the end of night. your eyes are like lead"(21) this is done to not only communicate how heavy his eyes are from being tired, but also how powerful his judgements may be, or his influance(since the guard seems so fearful of what he says or thinks).

4. Moif(night): the motif of night is used to indicate rash or passionate emotion. notice how happy antigone is while happly playing outside in the dark, or how she references night whenever she talks about Haemond, "you did love me that night didnt you? im sure of it!"(17). it is also used as an indicator of passion or rash decision making(in a negitive way in addition to a positive), "stronger than any nightmare, stronger than the shadow of the cupboard that used to snarl at me"(14). darkness is used specifically to communicate night as she vividly describes her passions. this is done in order to serve as a forshadowing as to how her passions may lead her into darkness or death.

Antigone jornal #4: 1940s and new version

after looking it up, i found out that jean anouilh is french. this version of medea was also writen in WWII(1940s), which should have a great impact on the events in the book. the first thing that i thought about(before reading) is that it would go more in depth with feminism, because of the role reversal that took place during WWII when women had to take mens jobs since they were off fighting war. this could still happen, but it doesnt seem as relevent as i thought it would be. a key thing about the french during WWII was that they were almost immediatly taken over by germany, and controlled. this could influance the play by making the charicters more good vs evil exagerated, emphasizing conflicts, or making creon look like an evil person who takes over the lives of the people of thebes (like hitler taking over the french). There is also a HUGE difference in language and style that could be influanced by the time period itself.

Antigone jornal #3: casting

Antigone
"So Fiery-and it ought to chill your heart"(64)
"like father like daughter, passionate, wild..."(82)
"give me glory! what greater glory could i win than to give my own brother decent burial?"(84)
Kate Winslet- passionate blue eyes, needs to dye hair a deep red color, lean cut body, long hair, soft slightly pale skin, full lips
-fiery, spontanious, rebelious, feirce emotion, defensive, passionate, expressive, unreserved, brash
why?- kate winslet already had most of the phisical qualities required, and in several of her movies she displays qualities of spotinaity(eternal sunshine) or passion(titanic)

Ismene
"when a law forbids the city?"(61)
"I have no strenght for that"(63)
"tell me dear one, what can i do to help you, even now?"(88)
Rosario Dawson- typically a motherly attitude, not unattractive but not 100% desirable body type, bland emotion
-passive, motherly, wise, experienced, loving, trustworthy
Why?- Rosario Dawson has shown a type of motherly/older sister attidude in josie and the pussycats, and would fit the role becuase of her faithfulness to her loved ones in several different roles.

Creon
"Am I to rule this land for others-or myself?"(97)
"you, get out, wherever you please-"(81)
"follow your orders closly then"(69)
Ian McKellen-intimidating, elderly
-aggressive, intimidating, vicious, selfish, uncaring, firey, unjust, tyranical
Why?- Ian Mckellen would be good for the role because he has played the antagonist before(magnito in x-men), which is a charicter that also grows power hungry and selfish. (note: irrelivent to his role of creon, but just fyi he was gandalf ^^)

Haemon
"now, you see?who's talking like a child?"(97)
"its no city at all, owned by one man alone"(97)
"what, brazen threats? you go too far!(99)
Jet Lee- athletic body, powerful presence, rebellious charicter roles
-rebellious, deciving, inteligent, rightious
why?- Jet lee would suit Haemons role because of the several roles he has previously played involving him being either a trator, or a deciver(Hero).

Antigone jornal #2

knowledge: what were creons actions and attitudes in Oedipus the king? what were creons actions and attitudes in Antigone?

Comprehension: how did Creon handle each the defiers of his laws? how did creon respond to What his son Haemon said about his actions?

Application: How does creons attitudes in Oedipus the king and in Antigone compaire?why is it that creon acts differently while in a position of power?

Analysis: what emotion would the audience have felt at creons sentence of antigone?what do you as a modern audience feel? who do you as the audience feel is the most victimized in this situation? Antigone, Haemon, the people of Thebes, or Ismene?

Synthesis: why is it that Creon seems to have changed from Oedipus the king to Antigone? how have the people of thebes changed since Oedipuses rule?

Evaluation: why is it that everybody seems to be against Creon in this play? is it because Creon has begun to show aspects of a dictators role in society? why would Creon not sentence Antigone to death?

Antigone jornal #1

one technique used frequently on page 61 is the use of breaks in thought or pause in statement. for example, "what? you'd bury him--when a law forbids the city?"(61) the reason this is done is to convey a mood of shock and fear. this same type of pauseing creates tension, and allows for the audience to stop and think about the conflict or tension occuring.

Another effect used is the constant comparison to fire, or burning things. this sets a tone of charicterization for antigonie as it is used to describe her by Ismene, "So Fiery"(64) and is at the same time used to set a tone of prosparity, "Glory!--great beam of the sun"(65)Chorus. this effects the reader and changes the tone of the reading by making it seem like everything has a good and bad side to it, as fire does. it could also be an foreshadowing technique used to convey that something having to do with fire will occur.

There are many conflicts right off at the begining of this play, which shows that the play will be dealing with many issues. there is a conflict in personality between Antigone and Ismene in the begining about what should be put first, what is right and what is law, "I'd do them no dishonor...but defy the city?"(63) she questions Antigones values concerning the burial of their brothers, and places the citys rules as higher up. there is also constant concern for the law and order through out the play, and a conflict between what is right and wrong.

Medea vs Oedipus on catharsis

The plays Medea and Oedipus are both examples of tragety because of their seperate use of cathersis, the downfall of power figures, and the fact that the play deals with the idea of fate.

In both medea and Oedipus the King, there is a systematic build of emotion followed by a purge of the same emotional energy. In the begining of the book, the audience feels that Oedipus is a kind person and feels that he is the more rightious charicter in the play as he speaks about his people, "I grieve for these, my people"(pg 163). yet at the end of the book, because of his actions and what he has done, we feel almost sorry for him. Especially since he has taken all the blame and punished himslef by gouging his eyes out. Medea uses cathardic elements in order to evoke anger from medeas actions when the audience once felt sorrow for her and her loss.
The two plays also involve a downfall in the main charicter in some way, the key difference between the two plays is the way the two charicters loose there power or influance. in Oedipus, he looses power through learning that he is the plauge of his city, and that he is the one to be blamed. In his seat of power he accused Creon of going against him, but in the end Creon emerges innocent after the events of the play unfold and has power over Oedipus because of what has been learned, and because of what Oedipus did as self punishment. Medea looses power in a way, because her credibility has been tarnished among the people of greece. She began as a charicter to feel sorry for because she had been hurt by her husband and childbearer Jason, which made the audience feel sorrow for her. however, in the end she killed her children, and posined Jasons fionce and her father. in doing this, she riled up the city and Jason, and has been lowerd in power.
Fate is discussed in both plays. Oedipus toys with fate in a more evident way than Medea becuase in the end, after all this attempt to defy the prophisy made by the Gods, the terrible tragety of Oedipus still occured. this means that the primary meaning in Oedipus is that fate is somthing that cannot be prevented. Medea plays with the idea of fate in a different fashion. the Creon in Medea as well as Jason both do there best to make sure Medea doesent end up doing somthing rash, by trying to appease her and trying to make her leave the land even though they know it will probily happen. they cannot defy the prediction that medea will do somthing rash, and she does making the idea of fate evedent and enevitable.

Medea jornal #3

one interesting thing that should be noted is that throughout the begining of the play, only females used the gods or referenced them(chorus, Nurse, Medea), yet after Medea has poisined a couple people and killed her sons, then the males speak to the gods or reference them(messanger, Jason). Medea, throughout the play, interacts with the gods by making them almost seem equal to her as she goes along. but one of the key things Medea does is reference how the gods know something, or there knowlege in general. in the last episode, she talks about how the gods know what has happened from her side, "The gods know who began this whole calamity"(76). in doing this she sets herself as her equals by saying that they would take her side in the matter, and would agree that this entire tragety was Jasons fault to begin with. earlyer she even swears on the gods which makes it seem like they are hers to swear on, "Swear by the sun, my father's father dread. swear by every god and godhead"(56). Jason however interacts with the gods like what would be typical of a greek citizen, he asks them for things, "For the love of the gods allow me"(77). He is asking the gods for things, which in turn makes it seem like the gods have power over him. while Medea seems to use and reference the gods as if they have power over other people.
Topic/ kinda thesis statment: In the play Medea Euripides uses different interactions that his charicters have with the gods to display how some people place themselfs higher in power through Medeas use of gods as if they have power over people and Jasons use of the gods to act as if he is lower than them by asking the gods for things.