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Antigone : A Feminist Play

Decent Essays
Marley Levy
10/26/17
English H
Antigone: A Feminist Play? Many people might look at Antigone as a brazen woman who rebels against the government, but others feel that she was just doing what was right. Would we think of her differently if she was a man? And does she deserve her bad reputation? Sophocles was a groundbreaking playwright in many ways, especially with Antigone which shows Antigone as a brave soul seeking justice. In Greece, those viewing Antigone were primarily male, due to the fact that most known plays were during festivals for men, which might prove that Sophocles was a man ahead of his time. Antigone is a play written by a man that seems to hint at a women’s place in society and the sexism she might face through Antigone and her sister Ismene, Creon’s harsh quotes and the general way women are treated and referred to. Antigone’s sister Ismene is a docile, mild tempered rule follower. In many ways, she is what the ideal women might look to a Greek man of their time. However, as mentioned earlier she is a foil-a character who was created to highlight her contrast to Antigone. It’s even fair to assume this is the sole reason she was included in this play because she is only necessary for scenes with her sister. In a monologue in response to Antigone’s plans to bury Polyneices, Ismene says, “Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men. Then too we’re underlings, ruled by much stronger hands, so we submit in this, and things still worse,”
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