It’s the same, but not identical…

Wong Phui Nam’s Anike is parallel to the story of Antigone and to a large extents, it stand on its own as Phui Nam does set this story to a different background with difference choice of words and some differences in terms of the characters. Basically, out of the five assigned plays, Anike would be my less-preferred play based on its same conflict that emerges in Antigone. Anyhow, it is quite interesting to see the creativity of Phui Nam, writing Anike in the setting of the ancient Malay royal culture. The conflict between subject and king is told in Malay history by Phui Nam based on the famous writing of “Hikayat Hang Tuah” where Jebat has done usurpation in Melaka Sultan’s palace which drags him to injustice as the Sultan order Tuah to kill Jebat on mere suspicion that has an affair with a lady in the palace. Anike is invented as Jebat’s sister who upholds the right to bury her brother. So, basically, the storyline is the same. What make it not identical to Antigone is that the Malay words is used in Anike such as “taugeh, nenek-moyang, raja” etc. The other different is that Sirat and Wira(which resemble Polyneices and Eteocles) are not biological brothers. They are depicted as having ‘almost-brother’ relationship. This play is set up before the arrival of Islam as the element of suicide is in the play goes against the Islamic law. However, it is great to have such creative writer that can create same things in different view and contexts which brings out its own identity.