Antigone And Ismene Analysis

Throughout history, scholars, poets, and socialites cite and argue multiple aspects within Sophocles’ plays, which all contain a deluge of sentiments that permeate global society and culture. Riddled with disparate interpretations and theories, Antigone sparks acrimonious debate regarding a plethora of its details, such as characterization, theme, and undertone. Antigone, written by the Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, recounts the events of Oedipus’ daughter, Antigone, following her brothers’ deaths. Sophocles manipulates Antigone’s character to model the loyal, dutiful individual the Greeks idolized in their religion and culture rather than formulating a realistic character who serves herself.

Antigone is a play written by Sophocles and is about a young girl named Antigone who struggles with written laws of her city, Thebes. Her uncle is King Creon and sentences her to death because she decided to bury her brother, Polynices, after it was declared that he deserved no burial. Antigone's sister, Ismene, was too afraid to go along with her. Antigone's fiancé, (who is also

Ismene was afraid of Creon, thus, acted more carefully than Antigone as a form of self-preservation. Following the typical role of Greek women, Ismene’s nature was to obey men. She believed the men who rule Thebes must not be disobeyed because men are stronger and their will must be respected. This was clear when she stated in court, “Our own death would be if we should go against Creon. And do what he has forbidden! We are only women, We cannot fight with men, Antigone!” (line 45). However, Ismene’s obedience did not mean that Antigone’s act was wrong. For one thing, Ismene testified that it was a woman’s role to bury family members properly. Antigone should not be considered guilty if she was doing what society expected of a woman. Ismene also revealed that she warned Antigone that whoever buried Polyneices would be put to death. The fact that Antigone buried her brother anyway shows that she believed she was doing the right thing even if it meant her death. Antigone never had any regret for upholding her family’s honor and the gods’ will and was willing to die for both, and thus, she should be not

Although Antigone shows equality for women and rights, each character in the play has different views and believes. As a tragic hero of the play, Antigone has a tragic flaw and is very brave, as she defies Creon’s law and buries her brother, despite the fact she knows she will have to face consequences. Ismene and Creon on the other hand, do not appreciate

In Sophocles’ Antigone, gender roles are a major conflicting theme throughout the entire play. The setting of the play was written during the Greek mythological days, around 442 B.C. During these days, men were dominant and held all of the power, so women were automatically treated as less. Antigone and Creon portray the conflicting sides between male and female, and Ismene and Haemon portray opposing sides to Antigone and Creon’s actions. Antigone, Ismene, Creon, and Haemon each show differences in behavior due to their sex versus the actions each character chooses to take. Antigone tells Ismene about her plans to bury their brother, Polynices, which is going against Creon’s orders. Antigone and Ismene, have contrasting perspectives on

The relationship between Antigone and Ismene is close because they are both sisters but at the same time their relationship isn’t that strong. One of reasons they are foils to each other is because of their disagreement about burying the body of their brother Polyneices. Antigone already knows that she is willing to die to let her brother rest in peace but Ismene on the other isn’t on her side, instead she doesn’t want to help Antigone because she want to face the consequences that come with burying Polyneices. Antigone and Ismene are foils to each other because on one hand Antigone is willing to defy the orders of the king who has power over her, while her

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,”

As a woman, Antigone upholds her normative feminine funerary duties in burying her brother, Polyneikes, showing her dedication to the realm of the personal. Antigone claims to gain glory from the act of giving Polyneikes his due funeral rites. She aptly asks Kreon, “What greater glory could I have gained than by / properly burying my own true brother?” (552-554). Antigone argues that her honor as a non-citizen and as an unmarried woman stems only from the honor bestowed upon her direct, male relations, a group that includes the traitor Polyneikes. Under usual circumstances, if Kreon had not earlier declared death upon anyone who buried Polyneikes’ body, Antigone and her sister, Ismene, would be expected to perform funeral rites, as this is a female duty. This means of gaining feminine glory becomes clouded when Kreon, another of Antigone’s kinsmen, forbids the very act of normative, performative femininity expected of Theban women. Conversely, Antigone is aware of her place in society in that she acknowledges that burying her brother

Ismene and Antigone or both sisters to Polyneices, but their reaction to his burial ban is completely different. “Bury him! You have just said the new law forbids it… But think of the danger! Think what Kreon will do!” (Prologue, 33-34, 37-38). This shows that Ismene is being logical and cares about her own well-being which adds to her overall character. Antigone on the other hand seems to be in such despair that she does not care what happens to her as long as her brother is at peace. “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy.” (Prologue, 55-56); Antigone is showing her steadfastness and saying she has made up her mind and nothing can change that. This adds important characteristics to her character that the reader would not have without Polyneices. Kreon’s character also gains development through Polyneices because of how quickly he makes the burial of Polyneices against the law and puts Antigone to death. Both of these people were basically his children whom he promises Oedipus to protect, but to him the crown is more important which shows his hubris. Finally, the development of these characters would not have been as interesting, and the play would have not been as remarkable without the role of the “insignificant”

First, Ismene is empowered to overcome her fear of disobeying Creon’s law as a result of watching Antigone act boldly to do what she thinks is right. At the beginning of the play, Ismene, Antigone’s sister, is obedient and shy. Ismene is fearful of the consequence of burying their brother, Polyneices, but Antigone helps her see what is right. After seeing Antigone willingly accept punishment for burying Polynices, Ismene has a change of heart. She tells her sister, “But now I know what you meant; and I am here To join you, to take my share of the punishment”

Antigone was used to represent family in the play while Ismene represented authority. Sophocles used the bond between two sisters and their brother, to show how family should hold the highest of importance to someone. When Antigone asked Ismene to help her in burying their brother she ask if she was “A true sister, or a traitor to your family” (1.27). This was an important line to show where Sophocles stands in the matter family or authority. He wanted to show that by not saying yes to helping Antigone, she should have been ashamed of herself for betraying her family. When Antigone went through with her plan and was caught, Creon had the guards get Ismene too. Ismene wanted to die along with her sister but Antigone told her “You shall not lessen my

Antigone got out and stood out for what she believed in, Antigone claims “He [Creon] has no right to keep me from my own” which meant she will be burying Polynices despite what law the king has set. Ismene thought otherwise, she says to Antigone, “O think, Antigone; we are women; it is not for us to fight against men; our rulers are stronger than we, and we must obey this […] I can do no other but as I am commanded”. Ismene is characterized as “feminine”, a hopeless and helpless woman that has no business in political authority. Ismenes words did not make Antigone happy, she fights back, “No; then I will not ask for your help, nor would I thank you for it, if you gave it. Go your own way; I will bury my brother; and if I die for it, what happens!”.

The beginning of the play begins with Antigone and her sister, Ismene. Antigone presents her plan of burying their brother, Polynices, whose body had been denied a proper burial by their uncle, King Creon, since in his eyes Polynices had been seen as an enemy to the city. Antigone wanted Ismene to accompany her, but Ismene immediately refused in fear of the consequences. Ismene states “We are women and we do not fight with men/ We are subject to them

In contrary Ismene is docile and someone who follow the laws at all costs. She said, “we are women” stating a woman’s position in society and obligated to obey by the law. She doesn’t agree with her sister Antigone, since is prohibiting for women to have a voice during those times. Ismene believe that women should never violate the laws of man who were guide by the gods. Antigone will carry out the forbidden burial alone, nevertheless she seeks futilely the complicity of her sister Ismene. Ismene without endorsing the established power by King Creon, discreetly folds to it, became a passive collaborator of the system implemented by him.

In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, the role of women in society is challenged as Antigone reluctantly disobeys the “natural laws” that place women below men. Antigone’s two brothers, “...slew each other,” (Sophocles 57) but only one was buried as an honor, and the other “...unlamented, unburied, a sweet find for birds to feast upon” (30-31). Antigone disobeys the laws as she decides to bury her brother, with or without the help of her sister Ismene. As Ismene refuses to aid Antigone, she points out the duty of women in society. Ismene states, “...very horribly we will die if we go against the king’s decree,” (60-61) and “Rather, consider that we were born women, proving we should not fight with men, and that we are ruled by more powerful people and must obey them, even in more painful things...yield to those who walk with authority” (64-68).