Antigone Summary & Key Insights

Jean Anouilh's Antigone is a modern retelling of Sophocles' classic tragedy, set against the backdrop of a nameless occupied country during wartime. The play centers on the conflict between Antigone, a young woman of unwavering moral conviction, and Creon, the ruthless and pragmatic ruler who has forbidden the burial of her traitorous brother, Polynices.

Antigone, deeply religious and bound by familial duty, refuses to comply with Creon's decree. She believes in the sacred laws of the gods, which supersede any earthly edict, and feels compelled to give her brother a proper burial. This act of defiance becomes the central conflict driving the narrative. She is supported in her rebellion, albeit reluctantly and with significant misgivings, by Haemon, Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé. He initially tries to persuade his father to show leniency but ultimately finds himself caught between his loyalty to his father and his love for Antigone.

Creon, on the other hand, prioritizes order and the stability of his regime over individual morality. He represents the oppressive force of authority, clinging to the power he gained through questionable means. His unwavering adherence to his own laws, which he sees as necessary for maintaining peace in troubled times, blinds him to the justice of Antigone's actions. He is further influenced by his advisor, the cynical and pragmatic Tiresias, who acts as a chorus figure, highlighting the consequences of Creon's actions and the impending doom. Tiresias is also a voice of morality and foreshadowing. The Chorus, present in Anouilh's version as a distinct character, often acts as a narrator and commentator on the action, highlighting the absurdity of the situation and questioning the nature of morality and justice.

The play's core conflict lies in the clash between divine law and human law, between individual conscience and the demands of the state. Antigone represents unwavering moral conviction, even in the face of death; Creon embodies the cold, calculated pursuit of power. Antigone's defiance is not merely a protest against a specific order but a challenge to the very nature of authority when it contradicts fundamental human values.

The play culminates in tragedy. Antigone is condemned to death for her disobedience. Haemon, unable to bear his love’s death and his father’s cruelty, commits suicide. Creon, finally recognizing the extent of his errors and the devastating consequences of his actions, is left utterly broken and alone. The play ends with a sense of profound loss and a lingering question mark over the relative merits of inflexible adherence to law versus compassionate consideration of justice. Anouilh's Antigone is not merely a retelling of a Greek tragedy but a powerful exploration of the timeless struggle between individual conscience and the power of the state.