Powerful Women in Antigone and A Doll’s House Essay

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.

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 has been given strong characteristics in her story and because of this she does

Obedience and authority are seen as a priority in the plays” Antigone, A Doll’s House, and Trifles”. In the three plays women disobey men authority following their beliefs. In each play men enforce their authority over women; women are treated as if they were less than men. Antigone a woman with strong beliefs and morals revels against her uncle Creon. In A Doll’s House Nora was treated as pet by her husband Helmer until she opens her eyes. He always refers to her with nicknames as “little sky-lark, little squirrel, little singing bird, little sweet tooth” (148-149). He compares Nora with defenseless animals and tiny things. In

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).

The female protagonists in the plays “She stoops to Conquer” by Oliver Goldsmith and “Antigone” by Sophocles are successfully able to reach their goal by behaving according to their environment and behaving to the need of their situation. In the very well written play, “Antigone”, Antigone openly refuses to obey the king and buries the body of her brother, Polyneices. In the interesting play, “She Stoops to Conquer”, Kate Hardcastle makes it her goal to marry a man named Charles Marlow. It is her top priority since he feels relaxed in the company of lower class females. When Kate Hardcastle realized that Charles Marlow has a special preference for lower class females, Kate acts as if she is a lady belonging to a lower class and therefore

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

to his son, “To all one’s enemies. Do not be fooled, my son, By lust

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

1. Do you think woman have been under the shadow of men? Antigone by Sophocles is a great is a Greek era story that sets an example of a different type of woman, that is willing to risk everything for her beliefs. Antigone is brave and different because she stands up for what she believed and was willing to risk everything. 2.

Antigone, the youngest and sister of Ismene, filled with love for her family above all else, along with a strong will. She believes heavily in the laws of the god’s over the laws of men and is courageous and much prefers being heroic over cowardice. Antigone is loyal beyond belief and fiercely determined. She also is unafraid to go against men, as a female which in the times would be wrong and unthinkable. Antigone is one of the strongest and most independent women throughout this tale of tragic

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.

To add, Mrs. Linden is shocked when she learns Nora took out a loan without her husband’s consent because she believes Nora is only a pretty airhead who only cares about clothes and trivial things. Nora always concealed how smart she was because as she grew up she was just her father’s doll to play with and when she married Helmer, she became his doll to play with. As well, Nora and Antigone show their intelligence when they do smart things to save their families, even if it means going against the men who have power of them. Antigone shows her intelligence by going with her intuition and following the gods’ laws instead of doing what she has always been told and just going along with what a man told her to do. Nora defies her husband to get a loan so that she could save his life. Mrs. Linden expressed her surprise that Nora would even think about borrowing money when she said, “A wife can’t borrow without her husband’s consent” (Ibsen 151). No one believed Nora had the gumption or intelligence to get a loan. Most definitely, throughout history women have been portrayed as having less intelligence than men, yet Antigone and Nora show they have the same or more intelligence than the men in their lives.

Antigone is a strong female character in the play Antigone. She does what she sees as right and is not afraid by any means to stand up for what she believes in. This is extremely important because this play was written at a time where men were held higher than women. Women were seen as less capable and were not necessarily allowed to contribute politically or anything of that sort. Antigone however, knows what she wants and fights for it, with little regard for the risks.

  Ibsen's A Doll's House has been called the first modern play. The play was considered "revolutionary" because it broke several "molds" which had endured for centuries. Incredibly, much of what was considered "revolutionary" first appeared in Sophocles' play, Antigone - one of the first plays in existence.