Antigone Vs Creon

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

Antigone takes place just after a war between Antigone’s two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices. Eteocles fought on the side of Thebes whereas Polynices resembled an invader. Afterwards, Eteocles is buried and seen as honorable. However, Polynices is denied a proper burial because he is considered a traitor to Thebes. In this play, Sophocles uses Antigone and Creon as foils by characterizing Antigone as a martyr and Creon as a tyrant to urge the reader to realize that one’s own morals are more significant than the decrees of any government.

First off, Ismene, Antigone’s sister, actually was the one that incited Antigone's actions that led to everything else that happened in the story. Without Ismene, there would not be a plot. In lines 52-59, Ismene said to Antigone “What? You'd bury him— when a law forbids the city?” Antigone replied “Yes! He is my brother and—deny it as you will—your brother too. No one will ever convict me for a traitor.” Ismene said “So desperate, and Creon has expressly—” and Antigone interrupted with “He has no right to keep me from my own.” Here Ismene is telling Antigone that her actions are not something that are legal and that comply with Creon’s laws. Antigone, being hard-headed, decides that she is not going to let a law determine what she does for

Ismene (Antigone’s sister) points out to Antigone, “Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men,” (Sophocles p.646). This strict patriarchy is symbolized by King Creon, who makes a decree that is opposition with the gods and forbids the proper burial of Polynices (Antigone’s brother).

Furthermore, in Antigone’s conversation with Ismene, she reveals more of her motivations. Antigone’s anger is carried over, but the reader is also introduced to a budding grief. She states that Creon “has no right to keep [her] from [her] own” (59). The fact that Polynices is her brother is enough to for Antigone to justify her actions against the law. The tone of this statement feels like a grief-stricken plea, to do what is right for her brother. She loves him, and he deserves to be buried. Antigone then mentions that Creon and everyone who refuses to bury Polynices is “dishonor[ing] the laws the gods hold in honor” (91-92). For Antigone to then act against everyone, would, therefore, be the right thing, in terms of religious beliefs. For someone other than Antigone this might be sufficient enough motivation, but since she is so complex it is only a factor. A thoughtful, rational person probably wouldn’t be so quick to jump into a decision that would inevitably lead them to their death, even if that decision was the right one. Since Antigone is so upset with her life, she doesn’t care if she lives or dies, if the past is any indication of her future, only more pain will come. This is what makes her do the right thing. Antigone believes burying her brother is right, and that the laws of the gods must be obeyed, so it is a factor, but since she actually takes action and buries him, she throws her life away.

In Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone and her sister Ismenes’s two very conflicting personalities lead to a disagreement over how their brother Polyneices should be buried. While they both believe that their brother should have a proper burial, they disagree on what to do about the lack of the burial. Antigone attempts to convince Ismene to help her break the law to give Polyneices a proper burial. However, Ismene feels that they are not in a position to make a difference. She states, “We are only women, we cannot fight with men, Antigone!”

Throughout the play, Antigone is contradicted by her sister Ismene. Where Antigone is stubborn and hardheaded, Ismene is more obedient; Where Antigone is not afraid of going against the roles set for her gender, Ismene believes that they should be followed. When Antigone tells her sister of her plans to continue with Polyneices’ burial despite Creon’s orders, Ismene tries to reason with her, saying that because they are women, they shouldn’t disobey Creon’s proclamation. The equal value placed upon the views of both women is expressed in Antigone’s conversation with Ismene, in which she tells her sister “to those who agree with each, each of us was right,” (685-687). The play points out that at times, being obedient to the law even if one does not agree to it may be wiser than being stubborn and hard headed, even if it’s for a good

She tells Ismene, “I am going to bury [Polyneices]. Will you come” (Sophocles 31)? Ismene believes the laws are for “the public good,” while Antigone claims she wants to bury him out of “love.” This situation leaves two sisters who allow different influences to affect their decisions. Antigone breaks with the rules of society, law; Meanwhile, Ismene lets society’s rules guide her, even though she loves her brother.

You have made your choice; you can be what you want to be. But I will bury him even if I must die.” Antigone disapproval of Ismene’s choice made her choose to do it all by herself no matter the consequences, even though, it could be death. Ismene knew that she would not be able to break the law, but would not let her sister die also so she said, “They mean a great deal to me, but I have no strength to break laws that were made for the public good. Antigone, I am so afraid for you!

Ismene realizes that despite being contradictory to positive law, burying Polynices is a righteous act and her guilt for not supporting Antigone is evident through her decision to “beg the dead to forgive” [Ismene, 77] her. Ismene’s compulsion to adhere to Creon’s command illustrates that she truly has“no choice” [Ismene, 78] and is “forced” [Ismene, 78] partially by her belief that women are “not born to contend with men” [Ismene, 75]. Antigone, in her appeal to family tradition and value, believes that Creon “has no right to keep [her] from [her] own” [Antigone, 59]. Conflicted by Antigone’s statement, Ismene attempts to dissuade Antigone from her purpose as she feels obliged to “obey the ones who stand in power” [Ismene, 78]. Upon further consideration of Ismene’s quotation, “…I have no choice…” [Ismene, 78] one may recognize Sophocles’ motive to establish her character as one that is more likely to plead for mercy than fight for justice. This sparks the topic of fate versus free will and Ismene’s reference to the “poor suffering” [Ismene, 68] of her brothers as “their common destiny” [Ismene, 69] is indicative

This story is marked by tragedy after tragedy; Antigone and Ismene are presented with a father, that dare to killed his father to married his own mother. Two brother that followed the similar example, and consequently killed each other to for throne to have power. We don’t know what age they were when her parents died, but by inference we can argue that they were young. Although, Antigone and Ismene experience some life-hard moments together, their view on certain situation are shaped differently throughout the play. Antigone, see the situation with her brother Polynieces as outrageous offense to her and her family values, especially after being an active member of leadership in the city of Thebes. Antigone, experiences had made her a stronger than other women, she doesn’t fear man, and is

Ismene was too scared because of the decree. She has already lost her parents, her brothers, and she might lose her own sister soon. Ismene disagree and doesn't help. Antigone was furious about this and called her sister a traitor and said never to speak to her again. After that, Antigone stormed out in

Antigone’s complications begin to unravel as she becomes more open-minded towards the end of the play. Although she never states that she was in the wrong for going against the king’s wishes, she does begin to show remorse as her death is fast approaching. The fear of her impending death is what made her realize that there is a chance that she could have been in the wrong for burying Polyneices. As she is about to be locked in her stone tomb she cries, “Very well: if this is the pleasure of the gods, once I suffer I will know that I was wrong” (164). This is the first time we see Antigone waver from her strong headed ideals and intense loyalty that led her to going against the king’s decree. We see her situation continue to unravel as she loses composure and begins feeling sorry for herself when she states, “Now he has taken me by force, he is driving me down unmarried. I’ve had no man, no wedding celebration, shared nothing with a husband, never raised a child”(164). This is a side of Antigone that has not

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).

Ismene, a character from Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone, is the sister of the play’s main protagonist Antigone. Ismene is sought out by Antigone, who is requesting her assistance in burying their deceased brother, Polyneices. Polyneices was slain alongside Eteocles, their other brother when the former rebelled against the kingship of the latter. Their uncle Creon who is now the king decreed that the body of Polyneices is to be left unburied (Antigone, 3-4). Ismene responds to her sister, telling her that she is reckless for wanting to defy the law and states that women are not made to fight with men who are stronger (Antigone, 5). Furthermore Ismene states that she too weak to go against the cities’ will and refuses to take part in Antigone’s plans (Antigone, 5-6). Later after Antigone has succeeded in her quest, Ismene is questioned and scolded by Creon who is asking whether or not she played a role in Antigone’s actions. She tries to share the blame with Antigone so that she can be punished alongside her sister.