Creon In Antigone And Jean Anouilh

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The story of Antigone has been written many times and many ways throughout history.The story’s meaning,themes, and characters have been altered by cultural influences over the years. Focusing on two different versions of Antigone by Sophocles and Jean Anouilh, Creon is portrayed very differently. In Antigone by Sophocles, Creon is portrayed as a very stern ruler, while in Jean Anouilh’s Antigone, Creon is allowing his authority to falter on behalf of Antigone. In both versions of Antigone by Sophocles and Jean Anouilh, the character Creon is the ruler of Thebes. Creon is also the uncle of Antigone and her soon to be father-in-law. In Antigone, after Oedipus has died, his sons, and Antigone’s brothers Eteocles and Polyneices have fought to the death for rule over Thebes. Once they had killed each other, Creon was instated as the ruler. After their deaths, Creon had Eteocles buried with honors, but left Polyneices to rot on the streets.…show more content…
Antigone continues to confess to Creon but he does not want her to be put to death. Creon tries to let Antigone go free and cover up her criminal offence. Creon even admits that he was wrong in not burying one of Antigone’s brothers and he only did it only to maintain order in Thebes. If Creon had not buried one and left the other to rot, there would have been no right and wrong in the battle. Creon divided the brothers to give society the definitive line between right and wrong and to maintain order. In Anouilh’s version of Antigone, Creon recognizes the family ties Antigone has to Polyneices even though he does not agree with them. Creon lets his authority falter. Antigone even insists on her own death, but Creon does his best to convince her to live and that Polyneices isn’t worth dying for. Creon acts much more like Antigone’s uncle in this version instead of the ruler of Thebes like he does in Sophocles
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