Dilemma In Antigone

In Antigone, Anouilh is able to showcase the ethical values of Antigone that come into play when Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, issues a royal decree prohibiting the burial of Polyneices, who he believes was a traitor. Antigone then defies the law of the injustice of her brother and buries him. Through the use of hyperbole, simile, imagery, and symbolism, Anouilh is able to portray the Antigone and Creon’s tension of going against authority. In doing so, Anouilh allows the reader to question the ethical dilemma with which Antigone is faced.

Anouilh introduces Antigone as a serious and businesslike kind of woman. In the beginning of the play, the Chorus states, “From the moment the curtain went up, she began to feel that inhuman forces were whirling her out of this world.” (Anouilh, 14). Through the use of hyperbole, the Chorus is able to show to the audience that Antigone can feel and understand that the forces are telling her to die young and leave this world. Although she feels this, Antigone is still able to move forward because she knows it is her fate and it does not stop her from preventing injustice. Apart from her fate, Antigone explores the ethical dilemma of law and injustice.

Throughout the play, there is the defiance of going against the authority. For instance on page 23, Ismene and

Antigone understands what she is fighting for, and begins to tell her Nanny. She says, “ Save your tears, Nanny, save them, Nanny dear; you may still need them. When you cry like that, I become a little girl again; and I mustn 't be a little girl today.” (Anouilh, 21). Through the use of simile, Anouilh wants to audience to understand that Antigone does not want to feel like a little girl, as she needs a mature and adult courage from her Nanny for what she knows she is going to face – death. She ultimately cannot stop herself from what she knows the oppressive government will do to