Tragic Death Of Ismene In Sophocles 'Antigone'

To illustrate, Antigone articulates to Ismene that Creon lacks the power to prohibit her from burying Polyneices (Prologue, line 35). Disregarding Creon’s powers, Antigone extends both her immaturity and recklessness in amanner that both generates a hazy impression of Antigone’s plausibility and discredits her personality because of the seldom conflict between the king and women in Ancient Greece. Furthermore, characters such as Eurydice and Jocasta, who experience much more tragedy, diverge from Antigone in the course of their reactions. While Jocasta and Eurydice grieve for their loved ones and succumb to the sorrow, Antigone’s reaction exists at the opposite end of the spectrum where she acts with the sole intent to spite Creon. Continuing, Antigone dictates that she is “not afraid of the danger; if it means death, / It will not be the worst of deaths - death without honor” (Prologue, lines 80-81). Recognizing her inevitable fate, Antigone makes little effort to alter her actions or consequences. Her proud acceptance of her death, which she claims to be one of honor, projects her arrogance and stubbornness toward her situation. This immediate compliance fails to reflect the true outlook and reaction toward approaching death both today and in her time. Additionally, the diatribe provided by Antigone to the chorus near her death sparks much criticism when she asserts that she prays Creon’s punishment equals her own when the truth of her actions emerges (Scene 4, lines 67-69). Antigone’s blatant assault on Creon’s life conveys her ignorance, which also transmits the impossibility of her individuality. Sophocles employs Antigone to generate the generalized perspective of tyranny Conversely, many individuals justify Antigone’s reckless behavior

Ismene was afraid of Creon, thus, acted more carefully than Antigone as a form of self-preservation. Following the typical role of Greek women, Ismene’s nature was to obey men. She believed the men who rule Thebes must not be disobeyed because men are stronger and their will must be respected. This was clear when she stated in court, “Our own death would be if we should go against Creon. And do what he has forbidden! We are only women, We cannot fight with men, Antigone!” (line 45). However, Ismene’s obedience did not mean that Antigone’s act was wrong. For one thing, Ismene testified that it was a woman’s role to bury family members properly. Antigone should not be considered guilty if she was doing what society expected of a woman. Ismene also revealed that she warned Antigone that whoever buried Polyneices would be put to death. The fact that Antigone buried her brother anyway shows that she believed she was doing the right thing even if it meant her death. Antigone never had any regret for upholding her family’s honor and the gods’ will and was willing to die for both, and thus, she should be not

‘’Antigone is a story about Antigone, a woman who suffers the dead of her parents and brothers. The story focuses on her seeking proper burial for one of her dead brothers who fought against his own city. Creon the king, honors one of the dead brothers for fighting for his city and declares death to any who dares give burial rites to the brother who opposed the city. “As for Polyneices, who perished so miserably, an order has gone

Antigone is a Greek Tragedy that was written in 441 B.C. by Sophocles who is considered one of the great tragedians of the Greek time period and even today. Antigone is a complex play which centers on the two main characters, Antigone and Creon; Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and the niece to Creon. This play starts with brothers to Antigone, Polyneices and Eteocles dying in war; they killed each other tragically while fighting over the throne of Thebes. Eteocles receives a respectable stately burial and Polyneices was considered a traitor and is disgraced, not allowed to receive a proper burial. If anyone gets close to the body of Polyneices or tries to bury him they would be condemned to death by King

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

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

Throughout Antigone, Antigone is a presented as a strong woman who is both dedicated to her family and her community. That said, there is much conflict between these two dedications. In this paper, I will give examples of Antigone’s different individual responsibilities and her philosophies and explain how those conflict with the commitment that she is to have to her community and indirectly, her king. Ultimately, I will argue that Sophocles demonstrated his values of family, the way of the gods, and doing what is right through Antigone’s response to the conflicts between her values and the commitment she is meant to have towards her community.

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.

When she finds out that Antigone is disobeying Creon, she becomes very worried. Ismene says she cannot act against the law and that the consequences of acting against the laws put fears in her. Ismene being righteous interferes with her decision of whether she is to help her sister or not. Eventually Ismene recants and wants to help Antigone with the illegal burial of their brother Polyneices but Antigone rejects. Ismene recanting angers her sister; She feels that Ismene should of chose her in the first place but it is now too late because Antigone does not want the hep. Without the help of Ismene, Antigone gets caught by the guard for trying to bury her brother Polynices for a second time. If Ismene did please her sister and decide to help in the first place would Antigone of got

Ismene and Antigone or both sisters to Polyneices, but their reaction to his burial ban is completely different. “Bury him! You have just said the new law forbids it… But think of the danger! Think what Kreon will do!” (Prologue, 33-34, 37-38). This shows that Ismene is being logical and cares about her own well-being which adds to her overall character. Antigone on the other hand seems to be in such despair that she does not care what happens to her as long as her brother is at peace. “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy.” (Prologue, 55-56); Antigone is showing her steadfastness and saying she has made up her mind and nothing can change that. This adds important characteristics to her character that the reader would not have without Polyneices. Kreon’s character also gains development through Polyneices because of how quickly he makes the burial of Polyneices against the law and puts Antigone to death. Both of these people were basically his children whom he promises Oedipus to protect, but to him the crown is more important which shows his hubris. Finally, the development of these characters would not have been as interesting, and the play would have not been as remarkable without the role of the “insignificant”

First, Ismene is empowered to overcome her fear of disobeying Creon’s law as a result of watching Antigone act boldly to do what she thinks is right. At the beginning of the play, Ismene, Antigone’s sister, is obedient and shy. Ismene is fearful of the consequence of burying their brother, Polyneices, but Antigone helps her see what is right. After seeing Antigone willingly accept punishment for burying Polynices, Ismene has a change of heart. She tells her sister, “But now I know what you meant; and I am here To join you, to take my share of the punishment”

As the play begins Antigone is just meeting up with her sister and is telling her about the decree of King Creon. Antigone and her sister, Ismene, had two brothers who had killed each other on the battlefield. One of their brothers, Eteocles, was buried with the military honors of a soldier’s funeral, and yet the other, Polyneices, was to be left out to be food for the carrion birds since he died fighting against the city of Thebes. King Creon forbade publicly for anyone to bury the body of Polyneices under the penalty of death. Antigone is now determined to bury her brother and wants Ismene to help her. Ismene does not want to go against what the king has ordered and is fearful of what may become of her if she

This story is marked by tragedy after tragedy; Antigone and Ismene are presented with a father, that dare to killed his father to married his own mother. Two brother that followed the similar example, and consequently killed each other to for throne to have power. We don’t know what age they were when her parents died, but by inference we can argue that they were young. Although, Antigone and Ismene experience some life-hard moments together, their view on certain situation are shaped differently throughout the play. Antigone, see the situation with her brother Polynieces as outrageous offense to her and her family values, especially after being an active member of leadership in the city of Thebes. Antigone, experiences had made her a stronger than other women, she doesn’t fear man, and is

The second conflicting force that Ismene faced was her quality of loyalty for the law. Ismene also does not want the curse that surrounds her whole family to have an effect on her or her sister, since they are the last living children from their father Oedipus. Ismene tells her sister at first that “we must obey their orders, however harsh. So, while apologizing to the dead, regretting that I act under constraint, I will comply with my superior’s orders. Sticking one's neck out would be merely foolish (22-26).” Hearing this from Ismene did nothing but make Antigone mad. Ismene also told Antigone that she contains no power when it comes to act against the laws and she will keep quiet and so should Antigone, but Antigone told her to blurt it

Antigone is a tragedy with the opposition of state laws and religious laws. The main protagonist is King Creon ruler of Thebes, who has recently stepped up to the throne, after his nephews Eteocles and Polyneices had killed each other in a war over the throne. Creon declares, that his nephew, Eteocles shall receive a proper burial for defending Thebes, while Polyneices's body will be left to rot for attacking Thebes. This idea is greatly opposed by Creon's niece Antigone, as it goes against what she believes is morally right, and that Polyneices was a person and deserves to get a proper burial like everyone else. Despite being the antagonist Antigone is the hero of the play. This is because she is doing what she believes is the right thing to do, she claims, "Say that I am mad, and madly let me risk the worst that I can