(Anouilh) Antigone Journal 4

Happiness is a word which Anouilh often repeats during Creon and Antigone's argument. One time, Antigone says,"Happiness..." with Creon replying, "Not much of a word is it?" (Pg 41). This shows how Creon and Antigone differ greatly in their thinking. Although Creon and Antigone believe that happiness is the essence of life and the reason people go on living, they have a different view of what this happiness is. Antigone believes happiness is gained by the right to have a choice in your life. Creon, on the other hand, believed that happiness was gained through submission and obediance. He wants Antigone to be happy through obeying him and marrying Haemon.
Anouilh also uses ambiguous terms throughout the book to let us interpret the characters and their motivations. He makes these terms, such as happiness, seem rather unclear to show how the character of Creon makes broad statements in order to try and make other characters, such as Antigone, obey his orders. Creon wishes only for Antigone to be quiet and stay alive and "be happy". Antigone responds to this unfavorably, believing that dying for her cause is better than obeying Creon and not burying her brother.