Joan Of Arc Analysis

Gender and its roles are exposed in the story of Antigone as the central themes. Roles and rules are set and followed by several people in this era, this is appreciated in this text. Ideas of contradiction to these rules were not explored. In Greek mythology, several women held positions of power, but none of these women were human, making the idea of a powerful woman godlike and unattainable, as if to keep woman in their place, which of course, was always under the rule of the superior gender, the male. To challenge a patriarchy with feminism was dangerous, for both sexes were equally protective of it, leaving the challenger desolate in the battle against it. To rely on women to help other women rebel against this social norm was not probable, in the contrary, women held each other accountable for complying to these rules and punished those who didn’t. Women were their gender’s prevalent critics and suppressors, not only because they feared the repercussions, but since they didn’t have the means to rebel against it.

Ismene once argued with her sister, “If in defiance of the law we cross a monarch 's will?--weak women, think of that, not framed by nature to contend with men” (Sophocles 49-68). Ismene did not realize then that she was speaking with of one of the greatest heroines and monarchs of modern feminism in all of literature. If any woman today dared utter the words above, they would face immediate contention from the herd of strong-willed females belonging to the 21st century. In Antigone, we see Antigone press forward with conviction in pursuit of justice and truth. She is met with great opposition, largely due to her gender. In the past 2500 years, society has evolved in monumental ways.

To start, Antigone was written by Sophocles to make the people question their faith in both their religion and their government. Putting a young woman in a position in which she had to choose between staying loyal to her country and staying loyal to the gods, Sophocles showed the men of Athens in their comfortable lives that there wasn’t always a simple solution to all of life’s problems. It is important to note that it was only the men of Athens that were shown because they were the only ones that were able to see this remarkable play because of its depiction of women, specifically through Antigone. In a way, if women had been able to see this play, being

Men have always been looked at as inferior to women no matter what the situation may be. That is how ancient Greece and many other parts of the world operated. Women were never respected and their opinions showed no value to the benefit of their superior man. It is quite an unfair system, however that was the way things were run in the past. In Sophocles ‘Antigone’ women however are portrayed in a different light. They are shown to be brave, relentless and strong human beings. Even though they are portrayed this way does not mean that there were not any others who disagreed differently. Creon a powerful tyrant as portrayed in “Antigone” is obsessed with maintaining the subordination of women.

In the stories of Antigone by Sophocles and Story of Myrrha by Ovid, the protagonists are female who would not be categorized as traditional women. Antigone and Myrrha both lived in a patriarchal society where they expected to be subordinated to men physically, mentally and intellectually. Antigone’s brothers died in a battle against each other over the city named Thebes where her father was once king. While one brother, Eteocles, was given a proper burial the other brother Polyneices was not. As a woman, Antigone challenges the new King, Creon, who is also her uncle by burying a traitor in the king’s eyes, Polyneices.

Although ancient Greece was a male-dominant society, Sophocles’ Antigone portrays women as being strong and capable of making wise decisions. Antigone, the tragic heroine, rejects the traditional role of women. As such, Sophocles punishes Ismene for embodying traditional attitude. Moreover, Creon is punished for misogyny. Sophocles, accordingly, uses characterization to promote feminist ideas.

For centuries men have been finding ways to gain control over everything and everyone. One group that has been oppressed by men throughout history are women. Men have placed rules and regulations upon women making them seen as unequal and inferior. Was it fear? Was it the hunger for power? Was is the highness of superiority? Whatever the reasons were, men had to be seen as the highest being next to whom they worshiped. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the audience is exposed to the roles of men and women in an ancient Greece society known as Thebes. Although ancient Greece was a male-dominant society where women had as much freedom as a slave, Sophocles’ main character in the play, Antigone, is an example of a brave, strong-minded woman who goes against the limitations that were unfairly set upon women during that time to do what she believes is right. In this play, gender roles assists in the process of portraying the story since it affects some of the decisions of the characters and helps lead the story into the climax.

Sophocles Antigone, along with Medea are potentially the best example we have for how Myth has shaped and developed the feminist movement. Sophocles’ drama Antigone, written around 441 BCE, is one of his three ‘Theban plays’ that chronicle the dark fortunes of the house of Oedipus, king of Thebes. After Oedipus’ death, there is a struggle over the kingship between his two sons Eteocles and Polyneices. The army of Polyneices marches on Thebes and is defeated, but both brothers are killed in the battle. The new ruler, Creon, decrees that whereas Eteocles will be buried with full honours for defending the city, the rebel Polyneices must be denied holy rites and left to rot in the field and if anyone disobeys him they are to be punished by death. The state and patriarchy take high place within the novel as it does in many Grecian teaching places. The play was used to teach the subjects of the citadel about respect for the law and respect for society. We must therefore ask questions concerning the place of a feminine tragic hero, and the effect that it would have had.

Throughout history, women have always stood in the shadows of men. In many cultures, the role of a woman was to be seen and not heard. One of the first "heard" females was as I believe Antigone, of Sophocles’. Antigone, was the descendant of Oedipus. When her brothers Eteocles and Polynices killed one another, Creon, king of Thebes, forbade the rebel Polynices’ burial. However, Antigone disobeyed him, performed the burial, and was condemned to death for what she had done. Thru her actions she displayed vast uniqueness of a great female leader. In doing this, she stepped out of her place as a woman in a male dominated culture.

In “Antigone” by Sophocles, a famous ancient Greek tragedian, the main character, Antigone, demonstrates a prohibited action in a strict, male-dominated society. Greek civilization upheld strong values and rules that were designed to enforce orderly behavior among its people. There were state laws created by the King, Creon, and divine laws created by the Gods. Divine law was superior to the king laws, and if that rule was disrupted, eternal consequences could ruin an individual. In this society, men were mighty, powerful, and in control of the kingdom. Women were traditionally treated as an underclass with no voice or power. Women were restricted from performing any masculine jobs, holding high civilization positions, and disobeying men. Although Greek civilization had strict standards for women, Antigone challenges the law through her actions in order to satisfy the Gods because it is what she thought was the right decision.

The play Antigone was written by a Greek man by the name of Sophocles. This is why it is interesting that he included such prominent and strong woman in this play. In fact, the play is named after a woman, the title character Antigone. Woman do not take a back seat in this play, they play a prominent role. Woman in Ancient Greece were subservient to men and their lives were controlled by men. In Antigone, a woman steps up and shows that she is willing to stand up

One of the major conflicts in the “Antigone” is the struggle between the males and the females. It is explicit that the two genders are involved in deliberate efforts for dominance. In addition, it is evident that the perception that men were meant to dominate the women is paramount. For example, Ismene tells Antigone that even from birth the females "were not born to contend with men" (75), which depicts the women 's subordinate positions in their interactions with the men. Besides, the phrase describes women obedience and their passive nature in the confrontation of the day-to-day activities in the society. The women are displayed as beings whose role is to observe and to have little control over the unfolding events at a given time. Within

The cultural outlook upon women is very clear from both of these narratives. At the beginning of Antigone, Ismene reminds her sister, “We must remember we are women, / so not to fight with men.” (Sophocles, 61-62) This internalized hopelessness enflames Antigone’ frustration and connects to the larger ethos of truth that is defined by Plato: “True reality will be denied by the individuals who have not witnessed other realities, believing that the

The role of women in society have been challenged intermittently throughout history, and continue to be confronted in modern day society. They are thought to be inferior to men, and believed to be incompetent of completing the same tasks as men. This belief, however, is challenged in various forms, one of which includes writing. A famous writing piece that challenges such views is Antigone by Sophocles. This play was a tragedy written to show the controversial role of women in society. Similarly, women in modern society are often compelled to act a certain way, but refuse to do so in attempts to avoid being assimilated, and to gain rights.

In ancient Greece, it is clear that certain stereotypes or societal norms were in place about the way that men and women should act. These issues can still be seen in present day society and still hold a problem. Women in ancient Greek culture were believed to be less-superior to men. Essentially, they were thought to be compliant to men’s actions towards them or possess the convention to “look pretty” for the men of society. This though wasn’t always the case and women could be seen deviating away from this norm. In Antigone, Antigone herself provides to be a heroin in nature and epitomizes feminism for ancient Greek culture at this time period. In Sophocles work in Antigone, he expresses the fundamental differences that existed in the culture between the men and women social roles that are perceived to be in place.