Women's Role 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

Although Antigone shows equality for women and rights, each character in the play has different views and believes. As a tragic hero of the play, Antigone has a tragic flaw and is very brave, as she defies Creon’s law and buries her brother, despite the fact she knows she will have to face consequences. Ismene and Creon on the other hand, do not appreciate

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

In the Greek play Antigone writer Sophocles illustrates the clash between the story’s main character Antigone and her powerful uncle, Creon. King Creon of Thebes is an ignorant and oppressive ruler. In the text, there is a prevailing theme of rules and order in which Antigone’s standards of divine justice conflict with Creon’s will as the king. Antigone was not wrong in disobeying Creon, because he was evil and tyrannical. The authors of “Antigone: Kinship, Justice, and the Polis,” and “Assumptions and the Creation of Meaning: Reading Sophocles’ Antigone.” agree with the notion that Antigone performs the role of woman and warrior at once. She does not only what a kinswoman would, but also what a warrior would do.

In the tragedy of Antigone, by Sophocles, many themes are presented. The themes of civil disobedience and the role of women are heavily presented. The theme of civil disobedience is the refusal to believe in or follow certain rules set by the leaders. In Antigone, Antigone defies the rules and chooses to not follow them. The theme of the role of women is the role that women are supposed to follow. Although, Antigone yet again defies the traditional women role. These two themes mainly relate to the main characters of the story such as Antigone, Creon, Haemon, and Ismene.

To Antigone, it is not necessary that someone should obey their leader at all times. She believes what Creon declared to happen to her brothers was unfair and that the gods were telling her she needed to bury her brother. Antigone was unapproved to the treatment of women in these times, and that the king must be obeyed in all causes. She believed the gods were the true powers, and bad things would come upon you if you did not cooperate with their requests. When Haemon comes into the story, acknowledged as Antigone’s fiancée, who is the son of Creon, makes it clear why Antigone was even still alive. Although Creon was cruel and often harsh, there was still something or someone holding him back from simply killing her. Haemon told his father it would be wrong to kill Antigone and would bring great mourning to the people of Thebes following her death. He wants Creon to be open to others views, but Creon responds by calling Haemon a woman’s slave for backing up a woman and not his own father. A blind prophet advises Creon that he should properly bury Polyneices and release Antigone. He says if he does not he will greatly anger the gods, and might create his own misfortune for his disobedience. Possibly leading to his own death. As Creon ponders his possibilities and future, he finally decides to release Antigone and bury Polyneices. As he thought he was then making the right decision, he would soon find out what his

Antigone’s desire to follow her own beliefs demonstrates her courageous actions. Ismene exhibits emotional distress when she reminds her sister the consequences of her actions. Ismene feels unnerved with the idea of breaking the law. Ismene acknowledges her sister’s goal, questioning “why rush to extremes?/It’s madness, madness” (81-82). Ismene demands Antigone to pause and make a more rational decision.

Antigone could have been able to change her future by running away from Thebes; however, she remains calm and hands herself over the authority. “No share in work, no share in death, and I must consummate alone what I began”, said Antigone (Sophocles 216). Even though, her sister Ismene insists to share the blame, Antigone, bravely, takes the blame herself, displaying courage to challenge unjust law. “He believes that women are failed “males” and thus struggle with a significant handicap. A woman’s natural characteristics include envy, shiftiness, a greater tendency to pity and tears, cunning, despondency and lying.” (Meyer). In contrast, Antigone proves that “women’s natural characteristics” are not always valid by accepting the consequences of her own action. Above all, Antigone creates a distinct boundary between characteristics of men and women. Again, by taking responsibility of her own actions, Antigone shows that the assumption about women are failed “males” is irrelevant, because evidently, a woman is capable of doing anything that a men can do, including following her own will, not her own

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

Additionally, Ismene also gets punished due to Antigone’s actions even after obeying her superior’s orders. As a result, Creon states that “[he will] execute them” (43). Moreover, Ismene is punished with the shame of the actions she has caused. She stood up to Antigone and partially blamed herself for their brother’s burial as she didn’t want to be left alone. Ismene therefore “bear(s) [her] share of blame” (45) and suffers from Antigone’s actions. Ismene wasn’t the only character who embodied a traditional attitude as Sophocles introduces a similar male character.

“No woman shall seduce us. If we must lose, Let's lose to a man, at least. Is a woman stronger than we?” (Sophocles.II.3.539-540) says Creon, King of Thebes and uncle to the disobeying but brave Antigone in Antigone by Sophocles. A patriarchal society is a community in which male domination over women, Sophocles explains the journey of Antigone in getting her brother buried and yielding against the laws of Thebes in a man dominated city. Antigone portrayed in the play is loyal and stubborn, she would do anything that feels ethical and honest to her even if that disregarding the laws created by men. She responds to the standards of King Creon by going against her own blood, not believing that women should subjected to the rule that they

At the end, she is faced with a load of regret because she realizes her actions has caused her the future. She then comes to the conclusion that she will not be able to experience most of the things the other women in the play have or will experience. She thinks about marriage, children, and love before she dies. Antigone proclaims, “… unmarried. I’ve had no man, no wedding celebration, / shared nothing with a husband, never raised a child. / My friends and family have abandon me in misery …” (lines 917- 19). In this part of the play, Antigone shows that she can be vulnerable and weak like traditional women, Ismene and Eurydice. It also displays that she wants the things any woman would want in life; she wants to feel the love of a man and she wants

In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, the role of women in society is challenged as Antigone reluctantly disobeys the “natural laws” that place women below men. Antigone’s two brothers, “...slew each other,” (Sophocles 57) but only one was buried as an honor, and the other “...unlamented, unburied, a sweet find for birds to feast upon” (30-31). Antigone disobeys the laws as she decides to bury her brother, with or without the help of her sister Ismene. As Ismene refuses to aid Antigone, she points out the duty of women in society. Ismene states, “...very horribly we will die if we go against the king’s decree,” (60-61) and “Rather, consider that we were born women, proving we should not fight with men, and that we are ruled by more powerful people and must obey them, even in more painful things...yield to those who walk with authority” (64-68).