Answer:
Antigone (Anouilh) Metaphors and Similes
by Jean Anouilh
Antigone (Anouilh) Metaphors and Similes
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"Like a conscientious workman, he does his job."
This is a simile used early on in the play, said by the Chorus about Creon. The simile aids in characterization as it helps the audience understand the nature of who Creon is. Although Creon is a king, Anouilh compares him to a workman which is a job that is associated with a lower social class and has connotations of someone who is hardworking and persevering. This indicates that the life which Creon lives is unlike royalty, he is not living luxuriously, instead, he looks at being a king as something that is tedious and must be done, it is work, it is not enjoyable.
"The cord was round her neck like a child's collar."
This simile was said by the Messenger near the end of the play to describe how Antigone had died. Prior to the usage of this simile, the cords were described as "red and golden", the colors of royalty. The colors of the cords of her robe add a sense of majesty to her death; because after all, she is still the queen. This is juxtaposed to a "child's collar" indicating the immaturity of Antigone. It sums up how her petulant nature and impulsive decision making was what led to her downfall. This is important as it links to Anouilh's message to the intellects of France. He wanted to critique the improbability of the cell method succeeding, they needed to work together, and think together as one rather than in separate units.
