Hölderlin, Brecht, Anouilh: Three Versions of Antigone

Sophocles' Antigone portrays religious, political and personal lines of development which make conflicting demands on the characters. Most later versions of the story emphasize one of these elements at the expense of the other two. Hölderlin's “translation,” which in fact should be considered an adaptation, is clearly the most significant of the religious interpretations. Brecht's politically oriented version is based on Hölderlin's play. While generally opposed to it, Brecht shares a certain conceptual tendency with his model: the emphasis on process rather than outcome. Anouilh's treatment of the private perspective is especially revealing in this context because of the contrast it presents to that of Brecht. Where Brecht depicts the effect of the individual's choices on the collective, Anouilh's interest lies with the implications of these choices for the individual himself. Through the comparative analysis of versions by Hölderlin, Brecht and Anouilh, one may understand the interrelated nature of the three major tendencies in interpretation of the Antigone material.