Comparative essay between Adela from The house of Bernarda Alba and Antigone from Antigone

International Baccalaureate World Literature

Comparative essay between Adela from “The house of

Bernarda Alba” and Antigone from “Antigone”

In both “Antigone” and “The house of Bernarda Alba”, Antigone and Adela are displayed as modern tragic heroine, since Federico Lorca and Jean Anouilh supply them both with the characteristics of a modern tragic hero. These characteristics include a tragic flaw (which leads to their downfalls), noble backgrounds or origins, their suffering in isolation and a moment of recognition. Both writers use female heroine to convey the struggle between individuality and conventional society, however both writers use different styles in writing in order to differentiate between both characters and what they represent.

A tragic flaw is one of the four major characteristics of a tragic hero. Both Adela and Antigone suffered from embroidered pride which eventually leads to both their downfalls. Adela’s exaggerated pride is shown on page 21 when she gives Bernarda a coloured fan instead of a black one, Adela’s exaggerated pride is also revealed on page 55 when she claims that she will not be shut away from the community because of her mother and says her body will be for whoever she pleases, another example of Adela’s embroidered pride is on page 39 when she wears the green dress intended for her birthday and refuses to take it off and again when she claims she doesn’t want to grow old and lonely like her sisters. Antigone’s overstated pride is shown on pages 49-50 when Antigone is depicted by Jean Anouilh as a person of freedom. Antigone’s overstated pride is also revealed on page 26 when she declares her love for Haemon and insists on marrying him and it is also revealed in the dialogue between Antigone and Creon on pages 49-50. In both cases the downfalls of these female heroine were their deaths whether by suicide or through conviction to death.

A tragic hero/heroine usually goes through a moment of recognition also known as the epiphany that enlightens both him/her as well as the audience. Most of the time this moment of recognition is accompanied by feelings of regret and redemption, for instance in “Antigone” towards the end of the text Antigone reflects doubt towards her principles. On the other hand Adela receives no moment of recognition.

Another characteristic of a tragic hero is that they suffer in isolation. Antigone is shown sympathy (in Creon’s attempt to prevent her death) however on the other hand Adela is ...

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Another characteristic of a tragic hero is that they suffer in isolation. Antigone is shown sympathy (in Creon’s attempt to prevent her death) however on the other hand Adela is shown no sympathy in fact it’s quite the contrary her downfall was actually encouraged by Bernada (however not directly but deliberately). And the last characteristic is that they are of noble backgrounds. For example Antigone is a noble princess and Adela is wealthy and of a high class. Antigone's looks as thin and scrawny is typical Anouilh's heroine reflects her bleak image.

Antigone's comparison to Oedipus as an idealist acquired the truth regardless of consequences, this sets him apart from the human realm into a tragic hero and this is what Antigone is seeking, Creon realizes it and she herself admits it. Antigone is a young idealist who dislikes compromising and accepts no less than perfection, fearing that she and Haemon will one day become conventional she chooses to sacrifice her life. She is not physically beautiful but as she sacrifices herself she becomes tragically beautiful as opposed to her sister who is physically beautiful (who was supposedly made to enjoy life) in a normal conventional way who accepts rules and is shown to be afraid of opposing authority.

Adela name originally comes from the Spanish word ‘adelantar’ which means to go forward or to overtake; this name is significant since she overtook Bernarda’s authority by breaking her stick (which represents authority). Adela is the youngest, most attractive, spirited, and rebellious of Bernarda's daughters. As Magdalena says of her, Adela "still has her illusions," and thus has difficulty submitting to the strong will of her mother, who keeps all the daughters under tight reign. As a form of rebellion, Adela puts on a green birthday dress and goes out in the yard shouting, "Chickens, look at me!" She craves social interaction and cannot bear to be locked away from the world.

In conclusion Antigone is revealed as a passionate, courageous, stubborn and ideal character through her determination towards burying her brother. And Adela is revealed as a confident, determined, young, attractive lady through her constant needs for desire and her intent towards getting married against her mother’s wishes.

By David Kopti IB1A

Word count: 750