A n o u i l h ’ s A n t i g o n e

Tragedy Trashed or Translated?

Mark Rothko, “Antigone”

2Anouilh Antigone

“Drama” v. Tragedy

“In drama you struggle, because you hope you’re going to survive. It’s utilitarian – sordid. But tragedy is

gratuitous. Pointless, irremediable. Fit for a king!” (Chorus, 102)

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3Anouilh Antigone

Agenda

• Anouilh’s Antigone• Introduction Remarks

• Discussion• Anouilh’s Antigone As Tragedy/on Tragedy

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Anouilh’s Antigone

Introduction Remarks

5Anouilh Antigone

Introduction to PlayPlay, Setting, Theme

• Setting• Dilemmas

• frivolity v. purpose• destiny v. defiance• pragmatism v.

individualism

Structure – “scene one”

• Prologue (pp. 79 ff.)• Antigone &. . . (82)• Creon &. . . (97)• Chorus (101)• Debates, recognitions,

reversals (102)• Antigone’s choice (128)• Dénouement (134)

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Discussion

Anouilh’s Antigone As Tragedy/on Tragedy

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Tragedy: Features, Examples

• pity towards main character• gets you more involved

• pathei-mathos• gives suffering purpose-

meaning

• death• mystery

• serious/sad• gives it more weight

• plausibility• similar to serious

• internal logic

• relatability• more likely to take

something away

• reversal• related to relatability-

pity

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8Anouilh Antigone

Anouilh’s Antigone as Tragic?How so?

• pathei mathos• who learned what?

• ant learning about her brothers

• the gender issues as constraining – death as a bid for heroicism

How not?

• pathei mathos• disagree: she doesn’t

change• disagree: more of a drama: • pity party for ant – doesn’t

change

8-Dec-11

9Anouilh Antigone

“Drama” v. Tragedy

“In drama you struggle, because you hope you’re going to survive. It’s utilitarian – sordid. But tragedy is

gratuitous. Pointless, irremediable. Fit for a king!” (Chorus, 102)

8-Dec-11

10Anouilh Antigone

What’s That Mean?

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Is That Right? (explain…)

YES NO

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