Characters and Plot: "Antigone" by Jean Anouilh is an adaptation of the original "Antigone" written by Sophocles. It is the story of young Antigone, daughter of the late King Oedipus, who is devoted to her brother Polynices. In a power struggle to see who should inherit the throne of Thebes Polynices was killed by her other brother Eteocles. This brotherly struggle was the clever plan devised by King Creon. The result of this battle is Creon ordered Polynices not to be buried. Antigone could not bear her brother's body to be rotting in the open, vulnerable to birds of prey, worms and maggots. She believed it was God's law to have a sacred burial. Creon's law, to set an example, for political purposes, was death to any who would bury Polynices. Antigone disobeyed the law and would have to be buried alive. Creon attempted to convince her to stop trying to bury her brother. He ridiculed God's laws, which then were the Greek gods, knowing that all those "laws" were politically and expediently devised. .
He tried to make Antigone realize that her idea of honor, reverence, loyalty and faith were misguided and misplaced. She should put herself under his protection. He would take care of her, if she would only obey, come to terms with reality. He saw her refusal as sick and crazy. She would rather not live than live so demeaned and compromised. She knew right from wrong. She would not accept the dictator's definition. And so she died with his son, her betrothed. .
Themes and Issues: The main theme concerns human happiness and its price. In her .
search for ideal and spiritual truth in burying Polynices and defying the law, Antigone rejects the world's formula for obedience and happiness. She refuses conventional happiness, as it is too human, a word unworthy of her heroic sacrifice and idealism. She curses Creon's "filthy happiness" of earthly love and material comfort. .
Determinism, or fate, crushes people in tragic circumstances over which they have no control.
