Creon As A Feminist In Sophocles Antigone

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

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 main characters in Sophocles’ drama, Antigone, are Antigone herself, the play’s tragic heroine and Antigone’s uncle and King of Thebes, Creon. Both characters are ruled by powerful motivations and beliefs; however, they differ from one character to the next.

She does not merely contradict the law, but also refuses to fulfill her duties to her societally recognized family, out of her devotion to her original household, which consists of her biological family members. Antigone responds to Creon’s edict with disgust by replying, “Then what are waiting for? More talk? / Your words disgust me, I hope they always will” (Ant. 499-500). This contempt accentuates her disloyalty to Creon especially since a woman should never speak to a king in this manner.

She is the opposite of Creon in those sociological views. This shows that she is very committed to her family and may be stubborn at times to fight for what she believes in. Women in ancient Greek society were looked down upon and did not have as many rights as the men and that may be a reason that their views are complete opposites. However, the sociological beliefs that Creon and Antigone both believed strongly in were the protection of personal dignity and freedom.

Like Creon, Antigone also never falters in standing up for what she believes in. Although Creon fights for stubborn pride, Antigone is trying to promote what is right and shows her higher reverence for God’s law rather than for Creon’s laws. In the eyes of the townspeople, Chorus, Choragos, and Haimon, Antigone is sacrificing herself to give her brother Polyneices the rightful honors due to the dead. Many side with this brave, honorable girl because she would rather suffer persecution and even death rather than give into Creon’s illogical demands. In the play, the chorus says about her, “You have made your choice, Your death is the doing of your conscious hand”. Antigone knew of the consequences before she acted and in doing so she chose her fate. At the time, she pleaded her sister Ismene to help her bury Polyneices but was rejected. Despite being alone in trying to rebel and perhaps she may have been afraid, Antigone goes out of her way and puts her life on the line to bring her brother respect.

Antigone is the individual in the text who is looked up to because of her love of family and compassion she had for them. Although the state and the gods such as Zeus had different laws established, the citizens were compliant to obey the orders Creon the king or ruler at the time such as Antigone’s sister Ismene. The citizens and characters introduced agreed with Antigone’s actions in a way but in a silent manner. Soon realizing their ignorance of maintaining a love of caring for loved ones which they had a strong bonding relationship towards. Creon is a notable and important character who opposed Antigone’s beliefs and actions of love but later on felt regret when his own family encountered death before his own due to his mistakes.

Antigone (the female) is the girl in the play who is being treated very poorly. Creon (her brother/king) is the ruler of the city of thebes and he thinks Antigone can not be as strong as him. Creon is the unruley leader of his sibling (Antigone) he treats them like they cant do anything themselves and he tries to kill his own sister over power. Antigone stood up for her dead brother who died in battle with his brother over who had to rule on the throne.

Ismene wants peace for women, and the gods. She would rather avoid conflict than helping fight for women's equality. Antigone and Ismene argue because they have different views of women’s roles. Ismene explains she disagrees with the gods, but that she does not want to fight when she says,“I do dishonor them, but to do this against the state- I have no strength for it” (Ant. 16). Ismene gets into an argument regarding women’s roles with Creon. Creon wants to kill Antigone because of her views of women’s roles. Ismene mourns over the thought and asks Creon, “What would life be for me alone, without her?” (Ant. 34). Sophocles reveals that Ismene is a weak character by showing Ismene’s rational side of

Before Antigone begins, the two brothers of Antigone are engaged in a battle no only of land, but of power. Their deep desires to rule Thebes and male dominating ego, only lead to their deaths; a tragedy that would affect more than just themselves. The battle of glory for men would not be the same for their sisters, but in 442 B.C. as Sophocles illustrates, the living women would have to deal with the tragedies of the dead; a task not easy to be burdened with as woman. Their uncle, Creon, dominates Antigone and her sister Ismene to the extent of mourning their own brother's death. Antigone has chosen a fate without glory: "I'll suffer nothing as great as death without glory," (Antigone line 112). Only a male in this time could die with honor and glory, and just as her uncle has forced a death without glory for her brother, although a glorious death is honorable, she has decided it a better life to die without glory than dishonor her blood and the gods. Ismene does not wish to go against the laws of her uncle, for "women were not born to contend with men," but between the bond of her and Antigone, she will defy the king(line 75). Ismene is just as horrified about the edict as Antigone is, but asks what they--weak women--can do. During this era the women had a specific role, and to defy that role would be horrific enough, despite

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!”

One perspective of oppression in Antigone is demonstrated through the conflict between Creon and Antigone regarding the burial of Polyneices, Antigone’s brother. Creon is the king of Thebes, and constantly has to assert his power, even if it means suppressing others’ opinions. When Antigone disagrees with his decree of allowing the burial of only one of her brothers, she defiantly performs a burial ritual for the other. Creon is outraged and issues the punishment of death upon Antigone, and condemns her sister Ismene for the same crime “for they are but women, and even brave men run when they see death coming” (Sophocles 460-465). It is clear that the main issue is not about Antigone breaking the law; but that she is an inferior woman who is expressing her opinions against someone of a higher standing. Creon oppresses Antigone for her gender and refuses to acknowledge her perspective because he would rather “lose to a man, at least”

The Importance of family and cultural values is proved in the Greek playwright written by Sophocles. Sophocles helped us understand each character as we meet them in the first scene. Antigone, we learn that she is the antagonist as she rebels against her uncle, Creon, and her love of her own blood, and that she is not one to stand down for any man. Antigone, Ismene and Creon are characters that are of discussion in the play of gender roles.

Sophocles’ Antigone is the third of the three Theban plays written, but has been considered the first; the play was written in or before 441 B.C. In Antigone, Sophocles uses women as a strong and independent figure of the society. This play is the first to display women differently in a male dominated society. He also uses this play to describe women as able to make their own decisions and capable of living without the attention of males. The play Antigone shows the personalities of three women in society: Antigone, the strong, independent one, Ismene, the weak, traditional one, and Eurydice, Creon’s wife and an older traditional woman. Each character represents a woman’s way of living and what is expected and expected of women. Each of these women display many differences, some being the fine line between good and evil and life and death. Going into depth with each female character, the reader could tell that the differences in each character is not displayed in the others. For example, Ismene’s weakness and Antigone’s strong will. Although strength can be important in the play, there is the bravery and the passion

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.