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Antigone

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 · rating details · 4,957 ratings · 107 reviews

Antigone was originally produced in Paris in 1942, when France was occupied and part of Hitler's Europe. The play depicts an authoritarian regime which mirrors the predicament of the French people of the time. Based on Sophocles' ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone which was first performed in Athens in the 5th century BC, its theme was nevertheless topical. For in Antigone's...more

Paperback, 72 pages

Published by Methuen Publishing (first published February 4th 1944)

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May 08, 2007 Lucy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: verse-and-stage, best-ever, the-mile

In the "note by the adapter" of the translation I read, he (Lewis Galantiere, who is, incidentally, a wonderful translator) related how Anouilh had to have the approval of the German censor in order for his play to open (in Paris in 1943). The fact that Anouilh was able to convey to the Germans a sense that Creon "wins" because he is lawfully "right," and to the French that in a sense Antigone's argument is the stronger in view of a higher power and moral "right" (and therefore comes as a call f...more

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Dec 01, 2008 Manny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: french

Read this play any time you feel you're being talked into something which sounds plausible, but which you know in your heart just stinks. It was written to encourage French people not to collaborate with the Nazis during the occupation. A miracle that it was ever performed. Were the Nazi censors simply stupid, or did some bureaucratic hero take a huge risk to get it cleared? Perhaps a bit of both... it's hard to see how just one would be enough.

The story is kind of heartbreaking. If you haven't...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Gale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ancient-civilzations-young-adult, classics-in-translation

"Obeying Remorseless Destiny in Ancient Thebes"

Anouilh’s 1947 tragedy about Oedipus’ doomed family proves
more than mere translation from the ancient Greek. In order to maintain literary integrity this French ANTIGONE is bound to follow the
fateful storyline of Sophocles, yet Anouilh develops interpersonal relationships in new veins. Creon argues with his stubborn niece by presenting new or subtly different reasons for her to acquiesce to his compassionate logic.

A contemporary touch is evident...more "Obeying Remorseless Destiny in Ancient Thebes"

Anouilh’s 1947 tragedy about Oedipus’ doomed family proves
more than mere translation from the ancient Greek. In order to maintain literary integrity this French ANTIGONE is bound to follow the
fateful storyline of Sophocles, yet Anouilh develops interpersonal relationships in new veins. Creon argues with his stubborn niece by presenting new or subtly different reasons for her to acquiesce to his compassionate logic.

A contemporary touch is evident in the costuming as the Bordas edition includes photos from two productions—scorning or modifying the use of Greek costume. Mocking the rule of Verisimilitude, Anouilh’s dialogue is interspersed with various anachronisms, which may rattle or delight the audience: pockets, cigarettes, evening clothes, a rifle, knitting, playing cards, bars, drinking coffee, a cotillion.

Despite the best efforts of man, the timeless tale unwinds like clockwork: Creon is obliged to sacrifice his niece to his own harsh decree. Antigone, deaf to all appeals of reason and sentiment, remains unshaken in her fatal course. Not even the proven treachery of her worthless brothers can sway her from her self-proclaimed fate. Oedipus’ family relives its ancient curse, since for Anouilh, Man is helpless against the gods or—the gods of their own perverted Pride.

Anouilh’s Chorus steps over the threshold of mere commentary in this version; it actually seeks to persuade Creon to a new course of action. As in Sophocles the major bloody and tragic events take place off stage—being reported to the audience by guards and messengers. The nobility of the royal family is starkly contrasted by the coarseness and pettiness of the guards, who address their king as “Boss.” Of the two princesses Ismeme shows more passion and devotion to the younger girl with her pale skin and resigned attitude to defend her brother and defy her uncle. The actor who delivers the long expository Prologue is reminiscent of the Stage Manager who introduces all the characters before the action begins. With its deep philosophy of personal integrity and royal honor, of inevitable doom and the depth of childhood impressions, this version of the Greek tragedy will be appreciated, applauded and analyzed by serious readers of all ages.

(April 5, 2023. I welocme diaolgue with teachers.)
(less)

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Apr 01, 2013 SDTNTLIFE rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-french, re-read, fav-of-2013

Description rapide :

Antigone de Jean Anouilh est une réecriture du mythe d'Antigone de Sophocle.
Cette réecriture se présente sous la forme d'une pièce de théâtre, courte, sans actes ni scènes et facile à lire.

Ma vision :

Je pense que cette pièce de théâtre est idéale pour introduire les enfants (et les adultes) au mythe d'Antigone. Le vocabulaire est simple, les tournures de phrase ne sont absolument pas complexes, tout le contraire de ce qui rend barbant les mythes grecs en règle générale.
Mais m...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Smcleish rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

Originally published on my blog here in January 2002.

Anouilh has taken over the plot of the play directly from Sophocles, while changing the characterisation of Antigone and her uncle Creon to make a point very clear (though presumably not to the German authorities) when originally produced in occupied Paris. His play is not about Antigone's choice but about the futility of resistance and the moral bankruptcy of both resistance and collaboration (the Germans being symbolised by Creon).

The story...more Originally published on my blog here in January 2002.

Anouilh has taken over the plot of the play directly from Sophocles, while changing the characterisation of Antigone and her uncle Creon to make a point very clear (though presumably not to the German authorities) when originally produced in occupied Paris. His play is not about Antigone's choice but about the futility of resistance and the moral bankruptcy of both resistance and collaboration (the Germans being symbolised by Creon).

The story is basically that Creon has taken over as ruler of Thebes after the self-mutilation and exile of Oedipus; the former king's children grow up under his protection. The two sons, Polynices and Eteocles, eventually kill each other when the former leads a rebellious attack on the city. Creon therefore orders a hero's funeral for Eteocles, but Polynices is left in the open to rot, the death penalty being prescribed for anyone who tries to carry out the burial rites for him. Of his sisters, Ismene is unhappy but not willing to do anything, but Antigone is caught trying to bury the body. Creon tries to spare her, asking her to collaborate with him in covering up her crime, but she refuses and eventually her execution is ordered.

Where Anouilh principally differs from Sophocles is in the motivation of the characters. Antigone begins to defend her actions by claiming that piety is her motivation, but this is quickly demolished - she is known to find religious observance ridiculous, so how can her claim be anything but hypocrisy? Creon claims, in his turn, that he wants the best for Thebes, but he view the best as the preservation of the staus quo, especially when he can claim that he is driven by necessity to such acts as the desecration of Polynices' corpse.

There is an air of unreality about this play, partly because it has been modernised (so that Polynices was a wild young man who liked fast cars, for example), but mainly because Anouilh has changed the function of the chorus. In a Greek play, they tend to expand on the action, reacting in a way that helps explain what is going on or bring out the point the playwright wants to make. Here, Anouilh uses a single man, who is much more separated from the action, acting as a narrator, and constantly pointing out the artificial nature of the theatrical drama. The effect is alienating, and the intention is clearly to make the audience think about the message of the play rather than the events in the drama itself, to distance themselves from their immediate emotional reaction.

In many ways, the meaning of Antigone is bound up with the circumstances for which it was written, more so than is the case for most drama. (Indeed, this is so clearly the case that it must have been quite daring to put on, critical as it is of both occupiers and resistance.) It still has something to say, though, and that is basically that there is something banal about our motives even for important actions; not a cheerful message, but one to provoke some self-examination.(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 Deborah Cater rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was not looking forward to reading this version of Sophocles' play as I often find that re-writes are not as good as the original. Trepidation grew after I had read the introduction - Anouilh had changed some of the basics of the Greek tragic play. The Chorus was a single man not a group that sing and dance their way through their lines, the blind soothsayer Tiresias did not get a look in and Eurydice was not given a line to say.

I was , therefore, pleasantly surprised as I flew through the pla...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Amir Mojiry rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Amir by: Negin

Shelves: drama

این صفت هولناک رو برای خیلی کتابا استفاده کردم! برای همین احساس می کنم داره کم کم ارزش واقعی اش رو از دست می ده برام. (مثل صفت "خوب"، "بد"، "زیبا" یا حتا... "دوست داشتنی" ) اما خب چه کنم؟ این کتاب واقعن هولناکه!
باید مفصل تر بنویسم اما دیالوگ های عجیبی داره این کتاب. خود ماجرای اودیپ به اندازه ی کافی جذاب هست اما این جا ماجرا کمی فرق می کنه. مخصوصن وقتی که نویسنده به قول مترجم، جاهایی "زمان پریش" شده و ارجاعات روز آورده اما در کل قصه در همون فضای قدیمی به سر می بره. اما هولناکی ماجرا دقیقن همین ج...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Brice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 20, 2011 moshimoshineko rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: plays

Antigone: Understand! The first word I ever heard out of any of you was that word "understand". Why didn't I "understand" that I must not play with water - cold, black, beautiful flowing water - because I'd spill it on the palace tiles. Or with earth, because earth dirties a little girl's frock. Why didn't I "understand" that nice children don't eat out of every dish at once; or give everything in their pockets to beggars; or run in the wind so fast that they fall down; or ask for a drink when t...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Stephen Bird rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am not fluent in French, but I studied the language for 6 years between ages 12 and 18, as well as during a 5 year-period from 2002 to 2006 (3 of those years in the Certificate of Translation program at NYU), as well as auto-didactically. I am also a fan of French cinema, which has sharpened my auditory comprehension. Thus I have a working knowledge of French, at least in the context of understanding the written language. "Antigone" was composed in simple, straightforward language, and while t...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Mereie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Antigone: Sophocles versus Anouilh

Since I am about to see a Dutch adaptation of Anouilh's version of Antigone, I decided to read both plays beforehand (Anouilh in French, Sophocles in English). Perhaps it is advisable to read Sophocles first (which I did not do), for it is clearly the more superficial piece of the two. The story is clear-cut, the predicaments of the characters are all there, but the story misses psychological depth: Anouilh's characters are much more rounded than Sophocles'. We...more Antigone: Sophocles versus Anouilh

Since I am about to see a Dutch adaptation of Anouilh's version of Antigone, I decided to read both plays beforehand (Anouilh in French, Sophocles in English). Perhaps it is advisable to read Sophocles first (which I did not do), for it is clearly the more superficial piece of the two. The story is clear-cut, the predicaments of the characters are all there, but the story misses psychological depth: Anouilh's characters are much more rounded than Sophocles'. We get to know much of Antigone's inner world by the talks she has with her nurse, her sister, her fiancé and above all with her uncle Creon. She must be seen as the girl who made the “right” decision, but at the same time she has her faults (she is utterly stubborn and once jealous with her prettier sister). Anouilh's Creon is less of a tyrant and a misogynist than Sophocles' Creon, and is less emotionally unbalanced than his Greek counterpart. Anouilh has set out (and managed) to create a more human Creon. Whereas we do begin to feel sorry for Sophocles' Creon when people around him are beginning to go down like flies and he starts sobbing whole-heartedly, we can really connect with Anouilh's king of Thebes. Granted, he is a tyrant too, but his lines make clear that he feels forced to. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it, as it were. And how reasonable does he sound when he says he wants to save Antigone's life and that she would be a fool to risk it over the fate of a creep who had threatened his own father. And what good would the preposterous wailing and moaning of some religious freaks do? Well said, dear Creon, perhaps your niece had better listened to you after all. But of course, it isn't so. Antigone represents the people who have the courage to resist, to say “no” when others say “yes” out of convenience. Interestingly, we are dealing with the same story with largely the same plot structure, but Anouilh made it so much more interesting. Even the guard adds to the entertainment. Anouilh also gives us a more suspenseful opening: for a long time, we are not sure what Antigone is really up to and what she had done already. Sophocles' piece is more fatalistic. The doom scenario can be sensed from the beginning. Antigone has made up her mind, she is going to meet her death, and so will many others. I realize I am probably downplaying the quality of Sophocles' piece here, but as I said, I think that is probably because I read it after Anouilh, which made it look more simplistic. It must be noted, however, that Anouilh's play seems to be the most popular in theatres nowadays. Rating: Sophocles: 3 stars (6.5/10), Anouilh: 4 stars (8/10). (less)

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Jun 12, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this for the first time in AP French many years ago. I didn't like it then, and honestly had no intention of picking it up again. But I did, and I am glad for it. Perhaps its because I have a better grasp of the French language now, or perhaps am not performing my own rebellion against the establishment, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is straightforward, the language and imagery are intriguing, and I like that it is stripped down, bare (or at least the staging in my head is such).

I beli...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Venus added it · review of another edition

Shelves: literature

همه‌ی آن‌ها که می‌بایستی می‌مردند، مرده‌اند. همه‌ی آن‌ها که به چیزی اعتقاد داشتند و همه‌ی آن‌ها که به خلاف آن چیز اعتقاد داشتند ـ حتی آن‌هایی که به هیچ چیز اعتقاد نداشتند و بدون اینکه بفهمند خود را در این واقعه گرفتار دیدند. همه مُرده، یکسان، خشکیده، بیهوده، پوسیده. و کسانی که هنوز زنده‌اند، به تدریج آن‌ها را فراموش می‌کنند و نام‌هایشان را به اشتباه می‌گویند...!

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Oct 26, 2012 chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: taught-books

I have read more about Antigone over time than I have most other classical characters, so I was interested in reading the original story. While this is not the original, I feel like I have a better understanding of what she was all about and the ensuing tragedy of her story. I also liked the subtle twists the author uses here to make the play a modernization. The gaurds, for instance, seem completely out of their time element. It gives this version of the play a (god help me) post-modern sort of...more

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Feb 27, 2012 okblueberry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, play

This used to be my favorite play in the entire world. I think that was because I had identified with Anouillh's Antigone much more when I was very young and very self-righteous. Maybe I'm still both of those things, but that's got nothing to do with this play so I will just say, upon re-reading this, that it is a really good adaptation of Sophocles. An excellent one, in fact. The real star of this adaptation, I now realize, is Creon. He is still 'un tyrant' but a very complex one who sees himsel...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: plays

A friend recommended this this to me after reading a draft of my play because I had asked how she would characterize the relationship between my leads. I should be so lucky to write a play like this. I was completely taken by the theatrical device of having the Prologue character "ruining" the events to come by talking about what would happen and by acknowledging the actors as actors. Also by the fresh take on the conflict between Antigone and Creon; the playfulness and the realism. There were a...more

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Mar 18, 2011 Madisyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: school

I read this play for school about 2 weeks ago. It was actually a very interesting read. The main character, Antigone and her uncle Creon are both polar opposites. She believes in the Law of God while he believes in the Law of the People. Antigone believes she has to bury her brother while Creon made it clear that who ever does will be sentenced to death. Antigone knows this and still does it, she, to some, takes the easy way out when Creon offers to save her. He is doing what he needs to do, bot...more

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Apr 03, 2010 Sam rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: play, translation

The Samuel French Actor's Edition completely mangles Anouilh's brilliant work. It's mercilessly adapted by cutting out and reconfiguring many of the scenes - for example, since Ismene was played by a younger actress in this particular edition, there are many references to her being Antigone's younger sister. That, in turn, takes a lot of power out of their scene towards the beginning of the play. Galantiere is a wonderful translator, but find a different edition if you want to read his actual, t...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Геллее Авбакар rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: theater

Disclosure:
I bought this book just for the sake to complete the synopsis of Sophocles and his nice piece of theater, It was a nice to complete the flow of events by another writer. the Book is written in French and with the same features above.

My Plot:
In the new environment after the death of Oedipus, the illegal marriage of this latter with his mother Jocasta, the outcome of this marriage results in the Born of Antigone, Ismene, Polynices and Eteocles. The two sons where the legal heirs for t...more Disclosure:
I bought this book just for the sake to complete the synopsis of Sophocles and his nice piece of theater, It was a nice to complete the flow of events by another writer. the Book is written in French and with the same features above.

My Plot:
In the new environment after the death of Oedipus, the illegal marriage of this latter with his mother Jocasta, the outcome of this marriage results in the Born of Antigone, Ismene, Polynices and Eteocles. The two sons where the legal heirs for the throne after the death of Oedipus. as an equal judgment. Every son was given one year to rule the kingdom, But one day they go into a riot and they kill each other, and from this point start the piece of Theater. As a result Creon declare that Eteocles has to be buried in a respectable manner however Polynices was thrown to the forest to be a nice lunch for the beasts in the forest. Antigone in this respect, choose to bury her brother in spite of the objection made by her uncle Creon, She tried to convince her sister Ismene to join her deed of burying Polynices, but Ismene was the kind of girl that never brake up the divine laws. Finally. Antigone caught by the Creon's guards. and reveals that she was against the rules that gave the man the complete power over everything. She died due to Creon's rule and her sister Ismene get married with her lover Haemon.

Positive and Negative Aspects:
The story of was an adaptation of the main piece of the Greek theater Oedipus. a Legend of a Thebes. However in Anouilh version something was added to run, But it was all OK. It was another tragedy that complete its precedent one, However the writer makes some modification to make his looks like a complete version of the main piece of theater of Sophocles. In fact I really liked the state of being against the male power held by Antigone herself. It was nice to rebel against something rude and nuisance, Besides Antigone's death was like a dignity to all women in this world. Because death may symbolize several nice eternities to the women in General. All the characters in the story represent a certain form life lead by the humanity. The two brothers were fighting for throne, Ismene was the kind of submissive person to the Rules of male. Antigone was fighting against the male power to let a dignity for all women in general. Anyway it was a nice play that I enjoy by myself.

My Personal Reaction:
Personally I enjoy reading this nice piece of Theater even if it was written in French, I really loved the style used by the dramatist, the nature of language held by, and the simplicity of the dialogs performed by the Characters, The writer of this piece of art tries to make some modifications concerning the Flow of events that was perceived in the Precedent piece of Sophocles, But anyway it was all nice that's why I voted for it with five stars. Besides it was the first attempt to complete the Greek tragedy with another form of various ends.

Recommendations:
I would recommend this piece of theater to all the Francophone persons, in addition to the fans of the new form of theater. Because most of the components are new in this form of Book. It was like a rebellion against everything old, and as a resurrection for the new technique of the French theater of the 20th century. (less)

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Mar 15, 2011 Esme rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: poetry-theatre, classics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Die griechische Tragödie "Antigone" des Sophokles hat schon fast 2.500 Jahre auf dem Buckel. Ist Antigone in dieser Zeit alt, grau und faltig geworden? Der Konflikt zwischen staatlichem und göttlichem (humanitärem) Recht ist ein zeitloser. Der "skeptischste Mann des Jahrhunderts" Jean Anouilh veröffentlichte 1942 seine Adaption dieses klassischen Stoffes, in dem eine leichte Akzentverschiebung auf einen Generationskonflikt geschieht.

Den Rahmen des Stückes übernimmt der Sprecher (le prologue), de...more

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Apr 08, 2010 C. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: drama, own-or-access, french, war, 2010, antigone

I think I'm becoming a little bit obsessed with this play, which is kind of fun. It's at the point now where I am actually very keen to learn Ancient Greek so I can read the original Sophocles. In the meantime, though, I would like to read an English translation of Anouilh, and then read the French again, or perhaps read them concurrently.

This was very interesting, not least because all the data points fitted. I think just about everything from Sophocles' original Antigone was included: every c...more I think I'm becoming a little bit obsessed with this play, which is kind of fun. It's at the point now where I am actually very keen to learn Ancient Greek so I can read the original Sophocles. In the meantime, though, I would like to read an English translation of Anouilh, and then read the French again, or perhaps read them concurrently.

This was very interesting, not least because all the data points fitted. I think just about everything from Sophocles' original Antigone was included: every character inconsistency, every strange piece of dialogue. This is quite impressive, as there are a lot of odd character traits in Sophocles' version, which is partly what makes it great; one can never quite be sure what the characters' motives are.

Anouilh's Antigone (the character) does not at first appear to be the headstrong, stubborn, impetuous, temperamental young woman of Sophoclean fame. She seems quiet, demure, and her actions seem well thought-through. She seems to understand why Creon feels it necessary to leave Polynices' body rotting in public, and her actions seem not to be motivated so much by an incestuous obsession with her brother as by a true dedication to the cause of justice.

At first I was rather disappointed by this; Sophocles' characters act irrationally, which is more fun, and also I think more realistic. But eventually I realised that so do Anouilh's; Antigone is above all an unreliable narrator, and by the end it is clear that she is perhaps just as mad and death-obsessed as she is in Sophocles. In fact, in this version Creon comes across as by far the more reasonable; the more detailed exposition of Polynices and Eteocles' characters and actions made it much more difficult to sympathise with Polynices and Antigone (and I suspect their actions were taken directly from Ancient Greek accounts, so exactly the same thing would have happened in Sophocles' Antigone, just not mentioned in the play).

I found that in this specific instance, it is difficult not to understand Creon's actions: Polynices and Eteocles were both absolute bastards trying to unseat their father from the throne so that they could be ruler of Thebes; both died in battle while fighting each other; Creon chose at random one to be buried in state and the other to be left to rot as an example for the populace. This makes a lot of sense to me, and given how terrible their actions were I can understand why a ruler would want to do such a thing. This is not really made clear in Sophocles. But when you think about it on a more abstract level, this is bad, bad, bad! No ruler should deprive any citizen of their rights for any reason, no matter how horrible they are, no matter how much they harm the state! So interesting.

I question the wisdom of leaving out Tireisias and his prediction, and Creon's attempts to undo what he has done. In Sophocles, this has the effect of evening out the responsibility, because Creon redeems himself in a sense but is still punished harshly by the deaths of his son and wife. In a way, though, it makes sense, because then both Creon and Antigone stick stubbornly to their beliefs until the end. Also possibly it helped get this play past the German censorship.

The portrayal of the sentry was very interesting. In Sophocles' version, the sentry is funny, witty, clever, compassionate. He acts as a foil to Creon; ironically so, since he displays the qualities of 'noble blood' much more clearly than Creon ever does. Anouilh's sentry, however, is an imbecile; morally stunted, stupid, ignorant, uneducated. A much more accurate portrayal of a sentry, in other words. And he does still provide comic relief! The scene where Antigone is trying to dictate her final letter to Hémon is both hilarious and tragic.

Manny makes much of the beautiful writing in this play, and I did like a lot of it - simple language, but used well. I did feel like a lot of the arguments between Antigone and Creon went a bit crazy, though. Around and around in circles, constantly - they reminded me of nothing so much as my exchange partner arguing with her mother: "Mais si!" "Mais non!" "Mais si!" "Mais non! Tais toi!" "Non!" and so on and so on, ad infinitum. And then Antigone came up with this zinger of a line: - "Oui, je suis laide! C'est ignoble, n'est-ce pas, ces cris, ces sursauts, cette lutte de chiffoniers." And later, "C'est trop laid, tout cela, tout est trop laid." And I loved that about this version: everything in Sophocles seems very noble and virtuous - everything takes place on a level above that of normal huamn activity,everything has a kind of tragic beauty. Anouilh's version was so much more earthy, more realistic. There is really nothing beautiful about a situation like this, and there was no idealisation of anything. Which was beautifully mirrored by the simple, everyday language - none of Sophocles' poetic flights of fancy for Anouilh.

The thing which is most important about Antigone, though, is retained by Anouilh. You're not supposed to be able to choose between Creon and Antigone; the Ancient Greek audience wasn't supposed to either. They are both wrong and they are both right, and this we should never forget.(less)

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Jun 16, 2010 Sebas rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have not read the original version of this play (a greek tragedy by Sophocles, in case you didnt know), but I think this version is very entertaining. I have done my research (plus some things are pretty obvious), and there are some changes, including the audience it is addressed to.
I liked this book. It is short, fast, and easy to read. I recommend it. Its quite fun to see a greek tragedy styled play, situated in france during the WWII

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May 04, 2013 Kikoi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

كانت هذه المسرحية واجب مدرسي يجب علينا دراستها و تحليلها
صحيح انني نسيت تقيباً ثلاث أرباعها، لكن أتذكر أنني حين قرأتها
كانت مليئة بالأفكار عن الخطيئة و الغفران
عن مدى سيطرة الحاكم على الوضع حتى و إن كان مُقترف الذنب
فرد من أفراد العائلة
تأثرت بأفكارها بشكل أو بآخر، شيقة و تدعو للتأمل
و لا أنسى التراجيديا التي ترافقنا من البداية للنهاية

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Sep 05, 2011 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I read this book in secondary school for French...
There are still several fragments I know by heart :-)

"C'est vrai, c'était encore la nuit. Et il n'y avait que moi dans toute la campagne à penser que c'était le matin. C'est merveilleux, nourrice. J'ai cru au jour la première aujourd'hui."

And I could read it over and over again...

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Apr 21, 2011 Suzette Gee rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book follows Sophocles' version pretty closely in plot but brings a modern sensibility to it, as it was written in 1944. I think I find it most interesting because Anouilh wrote it during the German occupation of France in World War II, so it has some interesting sub-text. It raises great moral and ethical questions.

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Jan 29, 2010 Oceana2602 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1996, french, favourites, male-writers, school-reading

French-class obligatory reading, and I loved Antigone. I completely loved it. The language, the story, everything, even though we had to analyse it to death, as you can imagine.

Oh, the great tragedies of the classics. I have always loved them. But Antigone, with her conviction to do the right thing and her willingness to die for it is especially near to me. She moved me.

We also compared it to the classical version, but I like this one much better. It's surrealistic undertone speaks to me, and...more

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May 11, 2009 Lia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

I read this play at least three or four times. It's one of the works that really convinced me that reading things in the original French was well worth learning the language. Anouilh is amazing with his capacity for wit alongside the darker places inside the human soul.

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Jun 01, 2012 Fanta Diack rated it 4 of 5 stars

inspiring one. Antigone, the woman with strong views. it's incredible how she defies everyone for the right thing. so much in her rights with no fear despite the attempts of everyone to make her sway, she chooses the better end in her eyes...
strong, powerful story...

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Aug 11, 2010 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

On connait tous Antigone de Sophocle et on a tous entendu parlé de celle d'Anouilh. Que dire sur cette réécriture fantastique, pleine de sous-entendu qui nous font réfléchir ? Rien, à part que c'est un bon livre à lire.

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Nov 22, 2008 Michaela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: french

I think this was one of my favorite French-language books I've ever had to read for a class. I would definitely suggest it, though I have no idea what the translations out there are like. Still, it's a great play.

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About Jean Anouilh

Anouilh was born in Cérisole, a small village on the outskirts of Bordeaux and had Basque ancestry. His father was a tailor and Anouilh maintained that he inherited from him a pride in conscientious craftmanship. He may owe his artistic bent to his mother, a violinist who supplemented the family's meager income by playing summer seasons in the casino orchestra in the nearby seaside resort of Arcac...more Anouilh was born in Cérisole, a small village on the outskirts of Bordeaux and had Basque ancestry. His father was a tailor and Anouilh maintained that he inherited from him a pride in conscientious craftmanship. He may owe his artistic bent to his mother, a violinist who supplemented the family's meager income by playing summer seasons in the casino orchestra in the nearby seaside resort of Arcachon.
He attended école primaire supérieure where he received his secondary education at the Collège Chaptal. Jean-Louis Barrault, later a major French director, was a pupil there at the same time and recalls Anouilh as an intense, rather dandified figure who hardly noticed a boy some two years younger than himself. Anouilh enrolled as a law student in the University of Paris, only to abandon the course after just eighteen months when he found employment in the advertising industry. He liked the work and spoke more than once with wry approval of the lessons in the classical virtues of brevity and precision of language he learned while drafting copy.
In 1932, his first play, L’Hermine, written in 1929, was unsuccessful, but he followed it up with a string of others. He struggled through years of poverty producing several plays until he eventually wound up as secretary to the great actor-director Louis Jouvet. He quickly discovered he could not get along with this gruff man and left his company. During the Nazi occupation of France, Anouilh did not openly take sides, though he published the play Antigone, often viewed as his most famous work. The play criticises - in an allegorical manner - collaborationism with the Nazis. Mostly keeping aloof from politics, Anouilh also clashed with de Gaulle in the 1950s.
In 1964, Anouilh's play Becket ou l'honneur de Dieu (Becket or The Honor of God) was made into a successful film, starring Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton. The screenwriter who adapted it, Edward Anhalt, won an Academy Award for his screenplay.
Anouilh himself grouped his plays on the basis of their dominant tone: "black" (tragedies and realistic plays), "pink" (where fantasy dominates), "brilliant" ('pink' and 'black' combined in aristocratic environments), "jarring" ('black' plays with bitter humour), "costumed" (historical characters feature), "baroque", and my failures (mes fours).
In 1970 his work was recognized with the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca.

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Five Plays: Antigone, Eurydice, The Ermine, The Rehearsal, Romeo and Jeannette

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Quotes from Antigone

“I spit on your happiness! I spit on your idea of life--that life that must go on, come what may. You are all like dogs that lick everything they smell. You with your promise of a humdrum happiness--provided a person doesn't ask much of life. I want everything of life, I do; and I want it now! I want it total, complete: otherwise I reject it! I will not be moderate. I will not be satisfied with the bit of cake you offer me if I promise to be a good little girl. I want to be sure of everything this very day; sure that everything will be as beautiful as when I was a little girl. If not, I want to die!” — 83 people liked it

“A happy love is full of quarrels, you know.” — 8 people liked it

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