Journal #12 - Anitgone

Anouilh creates a contrast between ugly and beautiful within the play. When Antigone argues with Creon, she admits that she is ugly, and then speaks of how ugly her father was. However, she moves on to speak about the beautiful thing that her father became. She talks about how, in his doubt and uncertainty, Oedipus was ugly, but through his search for the truth. through his suffering in the end, he became beautiful. She essentially says that Oedipus' tragedy was beautiful and that her tragedy will be beautiful as well. Anouilh creates tension by describing tragedy as beautiful. Tragedy is closely related to death, so Anouilh essentially calls death beautiful. However, this is counter-intuitive to many viewers, who see death as the terrible thing that takes away life. 
Anouilh also creates a contrast between dull and color. Antigone is portrayed as the main vessel for this contrast. She constantly speaks of her want for life in its full color, and implies that her current life is dull and unfulfilled. However, her view of life in color conflicts with Creon's own view. Antigone sees "color" as all of the experiences of life, which include happiness and sadness. However, Creon sees life as only happiness, and thus their two views clash in the play.