Yes and No
During Antigone and Creon's discussion, the concept of yes and no are brought up several times. Antigone repeatedly says no to Creon's pleas to just go back to her room. She blames him for saying yes to the duty of becoming King. According to Creon though, saying no is the easy route. "To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows" (37). What he means it that 'yes' involves responsibility and action, while 'no' is denying the path of nature. "Can you imagine a world in which trees say no to the sap?" (37) Animals are simple and are motivated by survival instincts: yes I am hungry, yes I am tired, yes I am thirty, yes I need to reproduce. On the other hand, humans are complicated because they have emotions. If Antigone was an animal, she would say yes to Creon because it would deter away from death, a survival instinct. That is Creon's argument. Antigone accuses Creon of taking a job he does not want. "I don't have to listen to you if I don't want to. You've said your yes" (35). Creon gave up life for a duty. Antigone is giving up her life for moral righteousness. One could argue for either character because a tragedy shows the inevitable deaths. It is destiny not evil or good that the two disagree.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Journal #11 Antigone
The chorus' tone has changed from casually retelling events to an emotional explanation. This change it due to the turn of events in the play. In the beginning, everyone seems fine so the chorus need not hype up the audience. Now, the audience is getting more engaged so the chorus uses this moment to explain to them, what makes a tragedy. It is kind of like another definition or essay on what a tragedy is. The chorus states that "In a tragedy, nothing is in doubt and everyone's destiny is known. That makes for tranquility [...] You're trapped. The whole sky has fallen on you" (24). In a couple paragraphs, the chorus' tone has changed once again to a more laid back voice. He understands the excitement in the audience and mimics it, but than draws them to the realization that there is no real suspense because there is no doubt or mystery about everyone's destiny. The chorus is also getting more personal with the audience by using 'you' and 'I'. This is Anouilh's way of forcing the audience to reflect the play on their own life.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Journal #10 Antigone
List of Events
-Polynices and Eteocles have killed each other in battle.
-Creon declares Polynices shan't be buried and anyone that does so much to grieve him will be put the death
-At a ball, Haemon asks Antigone to marry him and she agrees
-Antigone knows she will die and thinks intensely
-She sneaks out to talk to Haemon
-They quarrel
-Nurse catches her
Reflection
Anouilh begins the play with the chorus who narrates the preceding and succeeding events. The tone is very casual even when talking about the deaths to come. She does this in order to give the audience the whole picture of the plot. A tragedy always ends in death so it does not matter that the ending is revealed, rather, the explanation prepares the audience for the cathartic reactions to the performance.
Antigone's motivation is to go against King Creon which is punishable by death. That is why her actions are kept secretive and she secludes herself. When the nurse catches her she purposely talks strangely and repeats things over and over as if mocking the Nurse. She uses many words to describe the beauty and wonderfulness of the night. "The garden was lovely. It was still asleep. Have you ever thought how lovely a garden is when it is not yet thinking of men?" (6). Her tone becomes precise as she tells the truth. "Antigone [soberly]. No. Not wicked" (7). It is soon revealed, that Antigone is afraid. After the argument with Isemene she begs Nurse to give her strength. With that strength she goes to tell Haemon that she cannot marry him. Antigone's actions are very well thought out, although she shows mild fear, she is determined to follow her plans. Anouilh shows what Antigone did during the night through Antigone's conversation with Haemon to better understand her feeling and motivation. Instead of showing the scene played out, the audience sees it through Antigone's view. This causes the audience to relate with Antigone more.
-Polynices and Eteocles have killed each other in battle.
-Creon declares Polynices shan't be buried and anyone that does so much to grieve him will be put the death
-At a ball, Haemon asks Antigone to marry him and she agrees
-Antigone knows she will die and thinks intensely
-She sneaks out to talk to Haemon
-They quarrel
-Nurse catches her
Reflection
Anouilh begins the play with the chorus who narrates the preceding and succeeding events. The tone is very casual even when talking about the deaths to come. She does this in order to give the audience the whole picture of the plot. A tragedy always ends in death so it does not matter that the ending is revealed, rather, the explanation prepares the audience for the cathartic reactions to the performance.
Antigone's motivation is to go against King Creon which is punishable by death. That is why her actions are kept secretive and she secludes herself. When the nurse catches her she purposely talks strangely and repeats things over and over as if mocking the Nurse. She uses many words to describe the beauty and wonderfulness of the night. "The garden was lovely. It was still asleep. Have you ever thought how lovely a garden is when it is not yet thinking of men?" (6). Her tone becomes precise as she tells the truth. "Antigone [soberly]. No. Not wicked" (7). It is soon revealed, that Antigone is afraid. After the argument with Isemene she begs Nurse to give her strength. With that strength she goes to tell Haemon that she cannot marry him. Antigone's actions are very well thought out, although she shows mild fear, she is determined to follow her plans. Anouilh shows what Antigone did during the night through Antigone's conversation with Haemon to better understand her feeling and motivation. Instead of showing the scene played out, the audience sees it through Antigone's view. This causes the audience to relate with Antigone more.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Topic Sentence
In Blood Wedding, by Fredrico Garcia Lorca, Father's optimistic attitude leads him to overlook inevitable truths.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Journal #9 Blood Wedding
Journal #9: Create a list of themes that Lorca creates in the play.
1. Choosing between family obligations, traditions versus personal passion
The Bride is expected by her father and the community to get married to the Groom. This leads her to lie about her true feelings for Leonardo. She is pressured to follow the social norms, and attempts to, but in the end follows her passion.
2. The Bride's decision to let both the men she love kill each other, instead of choosing one-fate
Fate moves the Blood Wedding. It could be said that another Felix coming to kill the Groom was predetermined. This could be why the Mother fretted so much because she feared that this was inevitable. The Bride also leads the men to kill each other, although this is something she did not want herself. The Bride is guilty at the end she describes her motivation as "a woman consumed by fire". This was something that affected her emotionally and physically burning at her soul that she had to leave the Groom.
3. Living in an unhappy situation drives a person to seek control
The mother's character is very controlling of her son, the Groom. She is afraid of him marrying a bad girl. She is unhappy because she cannot forgive nor forget the death of her other son and husband. Thus she needs to control her son in hopes of keeping him from being killed as well.
The Bride is limited by traditional obligations to marry, especially after she gave the Groom her promise. This makes her very unhappy. She takes it out on the maid by being rude and bossy.
Both of these characters have no easy escape for their situation and this makes them very mad/unhappy. The loss of control is the main cause of depression. To cope, the mother and bride seek controlling another aspect of their life. In both cases, they control another character.
1. Choosing between family obligations, traditions versus personal passion
The Bride is expected by her father and the community to get married to the Groom. This leads her to lie about her true feelings for Leonardo. She is pressured to follow the social norms, and attempts to, but in the end follows her passion.
2. The Bride's decision to let both the men she love kill each other, instead of choosing one-fate
Fate moves the Blood Wedding. It could be said that another Felix coming to kill the Groom was predetermined. This could be why the Mother fretted so much because she feared that this was inevitable. The Bride also leads the men to kill each other, although this is something she did not want herself. The Bride is guilty at the end she describes her motivation as "a woman consumed by fire". This was something that affected her emotionally and physically burning at her soul that she had to leave the Groom.
3. Living in an unhappy situation drives a person to seek control
The mother's character is very controlling of her son, the Groom. She is afraid of him marrying a bad girl. She is unhappy because she cannot forgive nor forget the death of her other son and husband. Thus she needs to control her son in hopes of keeping him from being killed as well.
The Bride is limited by traditional obligations to marry, especially after she gave the Groom her promise. This makes her very unhappy. She takes it out on the maid by being rude and bossy.
Both of these characters have no easy escape for their situation and this makes them very mad/unhappy. The loss of control is the main cause of depression. To cope, the mother and bride seek controlling another aspect of their life. In both cases, they control another character.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Journal #8 Blood Wedding
Journal #8: How does the set change between acts and what effect does the set have on the atmosphere?
Act I had simpler scenes that took place in the homes of the mother, Leonardo, and the Bride. In Act II, there is a larger contrast from Act I. Act II, Scene I, starts off at the wedding party. Everyone is dressed nice and maids put a lot of preparation for the guests. In the Bride's cave, where in Act I seemed simplistic and plain, it is also festive. There are shades of white, grays, and cool blues. These colors begin to set the tone for the end of the play. In the final Act III, the atmosphere has completely darkened. It is described as murky. This foreshadows the death that awaits. Lorca uses these three main settings to keep the play unpredictable. Especially in the second Act when there are a lot of people and festives. The subtle color shades transition the setting to the last.
Act I had simpler scenes that took place in the homes of the mother, Leonardo, and the Bride. In Act II, there is a larger contrast from Act I. Act II, Scene I, starts off at the wedding party. Everyone is dressed nice and maids put a lot of preparation for the guests. In the Bride's cave, where in Act I seemed simplistic and plain, it is also festive. There are shades of white, grays, and cool blues. These colors begin to set the tone for the end of the play. In the final Act III, the atmosphere has completely darkened. It is described as murky. This foreshadows the death that awaits. Lorca uses these three main settings to keep the play unpredictable. Especially in the second Act when there are a lot of people and festives. The subtle color shades transition the setting to the last.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Journal #7 Blood Wedding
There are a variety of youth in the second act. Why? How does Lorca use the youth to affect the themes of the play?
In the second Act II, Lorca shows youth in a variety of ways and how it can waste away. The bride speaks of her own mother "[she] came from a place where there were many trees, from a fertile land..but she wasted away here" (39). This indicates that where they are now is a place that is like the old and barren, a place to die. This contrasts with the maid who treats the Bride like a child who reluctantly continues the wedding. The Bride is a complex character. She does now wish to marry and seems to see it as losing her freedom, yet, she instigates Leonardo and the Groom's slaying leaving her all alone. I think the orange flowers she refuses to wear represent youth and innocence. Like a flower, they have a blooming and golden period before they wither away. Than there is the chorus of girls (first, second, and third) who sing about the excitement before a marriage. They imagine a gallant lover and her long hair flowing like something out of a fairy tale. This again shows the innocent, beauty of youth. They use nature in their versus, especially flowers. Unlike the Bride, the Bridegroom enjoys this feeling of youth. "It makes me happy to see you wearing your crown!" (54).
In the second Act II, Lorca shows youth in a variety of ways and how it can waste away. The bride speaks of her own mother "[she] came from a place where there were many trees, from a fertile land..but she wasted away here" (39). This indicates that where they are now is a place that is like the old and barren, a place to die. This contrasts with the maid who treats the Bride like a child who reluctantly continues the wedding. The Bride is a complex character. She does now wish to marry and seems to see it as losing her freedom, yet, she instigates Leonardo and the Groom's slaying leaving her all alone. I think the orange flowers she refuses to wear represent youth and innocence. Like a flower, they have a blooming and golden period before they wither away. Than there is the chorus of girls (first, second, and third) who sing about the excitement before a marriage. They imagine a gallant lover and her long hair flowing like something out of a fairy tale. This again shows the innocent, beauty of youth. They use nature in their versus, especially flowers. Unlike the Bride, the Bridegroom enjoys this feeling of youth. "It makes me happy to see you wearing your crown!" (54).
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