Reviews tagging 'Death'

Antigone by Jean Anouilh

5 reviews

sabrinaleaf's review against another edition

challenging fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 ⭐️ 
Le personnage d’Antigone, têtue, est un personnage que j’ai réussi à fort apprécier en si peu de pages.

2e lecture:
4 ⭐️ maintenant
Je l’ai relus en l’annotant et en connaissant plus l’histoire derrière cette tragédie

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Death

Moderate: Misogyny

mxmorganic's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a fascinating read in conversation with Sophocles’ play. At certain points it’s almost a 1:1 adaptation from the original, while at others scenes can differ quite dramatically from the moments they’re based on. Seeing where and how Anouilh chose to innovate as he retold this story is a rich, rewarding experience. 

 

Moreover, the play is a fascinating work in its own right. There’s a character standing in for the Greek chorus who frames the play at its beginning as a tragedy that simply cannot be stopped. Everything’s already been decided, and it cannot be changed, and the machine is simply going to run the way it was designed to. Examining that through-line as the play progresses is a highlight of the reading experience. Antigone in particular seems to be rather aware that she’s just a character in a tragedy, and hearing her speak to other characters, knowing what she does but will not tell them, is a tremendous element of the play. 

 

Finally, kudos to Jeremy Sams for this translation. I cannot speak to how it stands in comparison to Anouilh’s original French, but the English he has produced is a delight to read (minus an unfortunately high number of typos for a work this small). 

 

In short, whether approaching it in conversation with Sophocles or reading it more as the excellent play that it is, Anouilh’s Antigone is absolutely worth a read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Suicide

Minor: Police brutality and Death of parent

returningb00kworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and War

pulcotinette's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My absolute all-time-favourite, Antigone never leaves my side. it was a love at first sight. 
I love her quite love for Hemon, her determination, how Anouilh talks about theatre and about people having roles to fulfill and things  to do and things to say. I love that nobody is wrong, yet they can't be saved. I find this book heart-wrenching, but also deeply inspiring when I face a hard choice. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Death of parent

junefish's review

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Murder