Misogyny In Antigone

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.

Creon decides to punish Antigone for her actions affecting the circumstances of the story. “I will carry her far away Out there in the wilderness, and lock her As the custom is, to absolve the State of her death. And there let her pray to the gods of hell” (Scene 3, Lines 632-636). This quote expresses that Creon is a leader willing to put the law above family affecting the circumstances of the story. Creon states that he is punishing Antigone because her needs to pay for her uncivil actions the country.

The reason for Creon’s behavior is that he inherited a city that experienced destruction among the people and he felt it was his responsibility to restore it. He attempted to maintain stability while keeping a higher status. He first came into conflict when Antigone believed that no human law could supersede the divine law created by the Gods. Creon decreed that Polyneices was to remain unburied in order to punish the enemy of city and give a sense of justice to the mayhem caused by the civil war. She decided to disobey his edict and to defend her actions in front of the chorus and the city of Thebes. Creon did not accept the validity of her decision and was offended by her disrespect. He sees her impudence as treason and states “If you must show them friendship, go and do so down below! But while I live a woman shall not rule” (Sophocles 41). His sentence for Antigone’s death goes beyond her breaking the law, it was meant to

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.

In Sophocles’s Antigone, we can see that the deeply misogynistic society of ancient Greece has manifested itself into Creon, a despotic ruler, despising dissidents, traitors, and especially women. His hatred of women manifested into several examples of misogyny throughout the play: He assumed that the criminal who buried Polyneices was a man, he looks down on Antigone’s defiance as improper defiance of a mans order by a woman, and he virtually disowns his son Haemon for disagreeing with him and listening to a woman.

Antigone has a possible flaw in that she is too stubborn and persistent to obey Creon’s order; “I know my duty, where true duty lies” (Antigone, 128). Her punishment then encourages feelings of pity from the audience because her deed was honorable and respectful towards her brother Polynices. The chorus supports this view by bidding her a respectful farewell when she is taken away, “But glory and praise go with you lady” (Antigone, 148). Antigone is also very proud, and this may have contributed to her death. Even when she is caught she remains strong and defends herself by claiming that the chorus thinks that her act was honorable, “All these would say that what I did was honorable” (Antigone, 139). This causes Creon to remain angry with Antigone, “you are wrong, none of my subjects think as you do” (Antigone, 140). If she had been more patient and less defensive, Creon may not have been as harsh in the punishment he set for her.

wife, and his will to live, but is doomed to live on in his pain. Antigone

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.

When a messenger comes to Creon, bringing the news that Antigone has buried her brother, he begins his arguments why Antigone has broken the law. He begins by stating that a man shows what he is made of by his "skill in rule and law." In other words, the law is everything and as a ruler, he must do everything for his country. He considers Polyneices an enemy of the city and a threat to the security of the city as well. Thus Polyneices will be called a traitor in life and in death and dishonored. The scene when Antigone and Creon face each other is the opportunity for both to defend themselves. Creon questions Antigone. She bases her responses on that the city laws proclaiming her as illegal are not the laws of Zeus or laws proclaimed by gods, but rather, laws made by a man that one day will also die. She will honor her brother's death because this is what the gods have proclaimed for all mankind. (lines 460-463)

The article, “Gender pride as tragic flaw in Sophocles' Antigone” by Omolara Kikelomo Owoeye examines the tension between Creon and Antigone, and how the dramatic gender conflict effects the purpose of the novel. Through a psychoanalyst study of Creon, we see that the conflict is deeper than man vs. state. We see an internal conflict between himself and divine law, and then using this tension to attack the protagonist of the novel, Antigone. Owoeye makes the case that the critical reason for his stubbornness is because Creon is a woman, and in society during that time, it would have been a comical action on Creon’s part. He believes that his title, status, and gender make him the superior being. This thought process is what leads him to defy

Topic 9: Analysis of the Stereotypical Masculinity of Antigone and Ismene Compared to the Males in Antigone

She could also be spitefully defying Creon in a feminist mindset. Obviously, Antigone has no respect for authority. The Chorus tells Antigone, "We respect what you did for your brother / But there's no question that the orders of those in authority must be obeyed" (21). Antigone also claims, "What Creon says is quite irrelevant" (4), and, as noted

Antigone is a play about a woman who disobeyed the King's order to not bury her brother. The play was written by the famous Greek tragedian, Sophocles, in 441 B.C. The story took place in the city of Thebes and the time period is not mentioned. The main characters introduced in the play are of Antigone, Ismene, Creon, and Haemon. The primary focus was centered on Antigone and the consequences she faces after breaking the King's orders.

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

Women were not recognized as citizens in Ancient Greece. During the “Golden Age”, women had no rights to entitlement as a results, women were only viewed to only applaud men without questioning, these perspectives resulted in the absolute faith and admiration in what a male was considered to be a god-like- figure. In the ancient Greek play, “Antigone” written by Sophocles, Antigone, Daughter of Oedipus, was able to oppose what men have a set notation of what and how the “ideal” woman should conduct and present oneself in the community. This opposition resulted in the in the questioning of why Antigone was unable to be an “ideal” woman during this era.