The Role of Omnipotent Authority in Shaping Individual's Identity

 “Therefore, to stop the rumor, Emperor Nero falsely charged with guilt, and punished with the most fearful tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities.” The quote previously stated is an account by a Roman historian Tacitus about Christian persecution in Rome. A surprising fact is that: 250 years later, Christianity was made the official religion of the Roman empire despite the persecutions that Christians had faced before. This quote displays an example of how powerful authorities determine what people identify as not because it was a choice but because it is of best interest for the authority to change people’s identification. The shaping of identity by powerful authorities is explored in this essay with focus on the French play named Antigone by Jean Anouilh. This play is released during the German occupation of France in World War Two when the French identity is facing a great threat and it served as a way to encourage French resistance. As a result, omnipotent authorities always play a big role in shaping the way people identify themselves because it helps the authority in fulfilling its own interests.

Society and family are portrayed as authority figures that determine an individual’s identity. In Antigone, Antigone’s sister is displayed as the obedient version of her sister who obeys to society’s norms. This is best explained by the quote: “You’re always defying the world but you’re only a girl after all”. (Anouilh) As a close personality to Antigone, Ismene is seen several times asking Antigone to conform to society’s norms and she is a representative of family which pressures individual to act in a certain manner hence shaping the identity.

Society’s rigidness to change of identity out of the norm is portrayed in the play. In Antigone, Jean Anouilh displays Antigone’s efforts to do what she wants (therefore showcasing who she really is) as futile in order to show the readers that society does not easily accept non-conformist behavior. Powerful symbolism is shown through the use of the quote: “Yes it was, with a toy shovel we used to take to the seashore when we were children ”. (Anouilh) The word “toy” is mostly associated with children and by using it, the author is trying to highlight Antigone’s childish behavior and innocence. The diction in the previous quote also foreshadows the futility of her actions since she is trying to bury someone using a toy shovel implying that she is using inappropriate methods to solve her problem. This further proves that society is reluctant to non-conformist behavior and serves as a way the author uses to remind how powerful it is and how it’s easy to shape people’s identity since advocates for free will are not powerful enough. The highlighting of innocence in the diction used is supposed to indicate to the readers that children who have not yet been exposed to society’s deeds are more likely to seek their individual identities even though they are considered to be week. This is reinforced by the quote: “I can do that when I’m old. If I ever am.” (Anouilh p.12) which points out the reluctance of older people in society to admit their identity and pursue their dreams hence showing the author’s perspective of young people as being free to identify themselves while old people are considered to be conservatives trying to follow society’s norms.

State duties that are set by society limited Creon’s feelings as he is the one supposed to keep everything in order and prevent anarchy where anyone does what they think is right. Individual identities are disregarded and common identity is created by the authority. For example: Creon disregards Polyneices and favors his brother which forces the people from Thebes to follow the same trend as their due to harsh sanctions imposed on anyone who tries to bury Polyneices. With such a rule in effect, people’s perspectives or opinions are disregarded therefore showing how identity is formed to conform with the desires of a powerful authority. As said before Creon’s personal feelings are also ignored where his family ties are disregarded when he faces a rebel Antigone and tries to avoid conforming to the rules and it shows how society has control over people’s identities even though they may be in ranking positions in their society.

The author further displays how individuals have no control over their identities by the use of this quote: “My part is not heroic but I shall play my part”. (Anouilh) This quote portrays a self-conscious Creon who knows that even though he is following the rules to punish Antigone, he is not being fair at the same time. This is used by the author to emphasize that what has been set by society usually has to be obeyed. Creon is conscious of the bad effects of his actions but is incapable of relying on his personal perspective since societal obligations demand him to follow the rules.

Jean Anouilh presents different perspectives to the readers to display how individual identity sometimes has to face conformist ideals that were adopted by society. Antigone as a representative of an idealist whose personal convictions are at the heart of her actions, has misunderstandings with Creon who thinks that conforming to society’s rules is the right way of living not excluding the fact that his identity is suppressed by the role he plays in the community. The quote: “It was all grey. Beautiful. But now everything’s turned pink, yellow, green” (Anouilh) is another example of Antigone’s non-conformist ideals. In Antigone’s perspective, the color grey is being associated with beauty which is not common in society since brighter colors are preferred in order to represent beauty and happiness. An example of how modern society interprets bright colors is the association of the rainbow (which has a lot of bright colors) with happiness. This is explained by a disinterested tone used by Antigone when she talks about the other colors that are bright hence showing her non-conformity which involves showcasing her own identity which includes her thoughts before what is usually deemed by society to be right.

To conclude, powerful authorities play an important role in shaping people’s identities but the resistance portrayed in the play of Antigone should serve as a way to encourage people to acknowledge their personal thought and tastes which form their identities since the conformist people were seen to have stayed miserable at the end of the play hence showing that the author portrays individual identity as crucial to happiness.