Antigone Journal #1

"In order for you to consider character's motivations, I would like you to consider how Anouilh structures the play. To accomplish this, outline the events in the 48 hours prior to Nurse catching Antigone sneaking in the house. After doing so, address how Anouilh explains the previous days events? How does Anouilh's structure affect the reader's interpretation of characters, motivations, or events?"
Events in the last 48 hours:
Eteocles won't give up his throne to his brother Polynices like he is supposed to
Polynices wants his turn to rule
Polynices goes and gets 6 other foreign princes and tries to take over his city, Thebes
Brothers fight for kingdom with men fighting at each of the 7 gates to the city, Thebes
-Both brothers die at the hands of each other
-This leaves no other men next in line for the throne except for their uncle, Creon
--Creon orders that Eteocles be burried with all the sacred rights and rituals
--Creon orders that Polynices not be burried and anyone caught doing so will be punished by death
Antigone (their sister) burries (or attempts to bury) Polynices body
Antigone goes to Haemon's house dressed in her sisters clothing and perfume and makeup
-wants to be Haemon's wife sooner because she knows she won't make it to the wedding
NOW TO THE STORY!

Anouilh explains the previous day's events through the use of the Choir. Only a couple things are explained through Antigone. Choir is basically like a narrator. He provides descriptions of the characters and the back story to what is going on.

Anouilh's structure affects the reader in multiple ways. One way is that all of the lines of the character are glumped together into one large paragraph. This makes it seem like the characters are much more dense and have a lot more to say. It also makes it feel less poetic and "old". It makes the events in the story seem like they are chunked into specific times instead of just flowing naturally. It feels more rigid and staged instead of poetic, lyrical, and flowing.