Examples Of Ismene's Relationship In Antigone

Being that Antigone is the protagonist, her character is important in the play. She made the decision to bury her brother knowing that it was against Creon’s law. Ismene refused to help Antigone, which left her angry, yet still determined to bury her brother. She knew that burying her brother could lead to her own death, but she continued to show courage, strength, and determination throughout her role. In the beginning, Antigone says, “Dear god, shout it from the rooftops. I’ll hate you all the more for silence/ tell the world!”(17,100-101). This was said to Ismene, when they were discussing burial plans and Ismene was telling Antigone that she was against the plan. Antigone’s dialogue shows that she is not worried about being punished or worried about who knows what she has done. It is clear that Antigone is sincere about honoring the gods, her actions show that she feels that she is pleasing the gods and that is all that matters to her. “These laws/ I was not about to break them, not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride, and face the retribution of the gods.”(30, 509-511). This demonstrates how she feels about man’s law vs. divine law. In the plot, there was not one time where Antigone denied

While Antigone represents a full devotion to humanism, her sister, Ismene, represents not only the rejection of it, but also passivity towards the notion of morality which, in a sense, is equivalent to Creon’s treachery towards what we hold morally sacred. Ismene has long been used as a symbol of both anti-politics and anti-humanism, which creates a dynamic plot by contrasting the cowardly fear to stand up for one’s concept of what is right with a brazen display of self-fulfilled justice. (2) What’s worse may be Ismene’s knowledge of her cowardliness and complete complacency, as seen when talking to Antigone about her plan to bury their slain brother when sharing her fear of punishment, " Think how we’ll die far worse than all the rest, if we defy the law and move against the

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

For in the play, at the beginning, Antigone and Ismene were talking of how Antigone wants revenge for the death of their brothers. While, Ismene is expressing sorrow she is pleading that Antigone doesn’t do something so drastic. As said in the story by Ismene “I, for one, I'll beg the dead to forgive me— I'm forced, I have no choice—I must obey the ones who stand in power. Why rush to extremes? 80 It's madness, madness.” Even with saying this, she does help Antigone, and if she were not in the story then Antigone would have had to do this on her own, most definitely failing ruining the introduction of the story.

We read that Creon has issued a law that if anyone buries the body of Polyneices they will be sentenced to death. Antigone plans to bury her brother regardless of the law set into place. She is going to try and do it in secrecy and to avoid detection. She asks her sister, Ismene, to join her in the burial, but she refuses. At this point in the play the you realize the fear setting in. Ismene believes

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

From the very first scene opening with Antigone sharing her intentions with Ismene, Antigone is introduced with these good virtues: “Death so we meet, were honor; and for that capital crime or piety, loving and loved, I will lie by his side. Far longer is there need I satisfy those nether powers, than power on earth” (Sophocles 3). Antigone proclaims her willingness to die by her brother in order for him to be buried with honor and for him to have died loved, for it is what the gods desire and she has an obligation to them as she will need to satisfy them longer. During the same exchange, Antigone invited Ismene to join her in burying their brother: “Though you desire, shall you, with my good will, share what I do” (Sophocles 3). Antigone is allowing Ismene to join her in her admirable and noble mission to honor their brother and appease the gods so that Ismene has a chance to prove herself to the gods and to their family as

Imagine knowing that both your brothers have lost their lives due to foolish decisions. The man who comes to power in place of them decides that only one of them is worthy of a proper burial. One of them is glorified and the other is left to be eaten by animals as he is thought to be a traitor. Being one of the last in your line you decide to take it upon yourself to respect the laws of the gods and honor your brother. In Antigone, a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles , Antigone faces the consequences of defying mans law in order to follow the laws of the gods.

Antigone is salting the wound here by suggesting that Ismene does not love her brother as much she does. Antigone is using Ismene's emotions and questioning the love that ismene had for her brother implying that Ismene is a horrible sister and would rather let her brother get eat by vultures and wild dogs then risk getting in

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

Antigone and Ismene differ in ways they view the laws but compare in ways they want to bury their brother. Although Antigone and Ismene differ in their beliefs of the law, both sisters want to bury their brother Polyneices on their family's behalf. In their ideals, Ismene and Antigone both cherish the laws of the gods and are willing to put that both towards their brother burial. Ismene is willing to let her sister know that her close friends and there to show her love, “Then go, if it seems best to you, but know that your friends truly love you, however foolish”(98-99).

Antigone presents a number of universals in the role of a female, family loyalty vs state loyalty, and man’s laws vs gods’ laws. Ismene’s change of heart is undependable because of her previous stance on the decree created by Creon. Ismene’s original stance on Antigone’s plan of action shows her justifiable fear towards Creon and the power of the man. Ismene’s sisterhood with Antigone is clearly caring and loving when the two first interact in private Ismene states her concern for her sister “ What’s the matter?/Trouble, clearly.

“And do what he has forbidden! We are only women,” (Prologue, 46). When Ismene in Sophocles’ play, Antigone, speaks this line, it shows how she thinks women are valued less than men. Ismene is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, and she is the sister of the play’s protagonist, Antigone. She lost both of her brothers in a civil war, and she is left to decide whether she should honor her brother Polyneices by burying him, or be loyal to the king and follow his decree. Ismene is an important character because she is the sister of Antigone, and also, she shows the contrast of Antigone’s beliefs and her beliefs. Her purpose in the play is that she is a representation of all the people in Thebes that are scared of Creon. Ismene can be described as weak, as a coward, and as someone who has lost everyone.

After burying the body with Antigone, Ismene is brought before Creon for an explanation. She does not try to justify their actions only that Antigone should not be killed for it. Ismene tries to convince Creon to not kill Antigone but her actions do not influence his decisions. This is supported with the evidence, “What? You'd kill your own son's bride? Absolutely: there are other fields for him to plow.” In this line Ismene is trying to use emotion to stop Creon’s decision however Creon’s determination is far stronger than Ismene’s influence. This leads to Creon being resilient to changing his verdict on Antigone leading to Antigone’s death regardless of

Antigone was dejected with Creon’s ruling and decided to bury Polynices herself. She tried to enlist Ismene to help her, but Ismene was to afraid. Antigone furiously continued with the plan on her own. A sentry discovered Antigone and brought her to Creon. Ismene was also brought to Creon and confessed that she had helped Antigone with the burial rites of Polynices. Antigone stopped Ismene and told her not to