Gender Roles In Antigone

Throughout much of human history, women have fought to gain equality with men. From biblical times when women were seen as weaker than men, to the Renaissance, when the public sphere belonged exclusively to men, to today when women fight for equal pay, women have fought to have the same rights, responsibilities, and compensations as men. Most women have experienced or viewed some form of gender bias during their lives. While many people view the fight against gender-bias as a relatively recent battle, few realize that it has its roots in the writings of ancient Greeks, like Sophocles. In his play Antigone, Sophocles challenges traditional gender roles that label women as weak and subordinate to men by glorifying a woman, Antigone, who breaks

Antigone and Ismene are foils of one another. Antigone believes in standing up for her beliefs, while Ismene believes that women are weak and cannot stand up against men. After Antigone tells her that she plans to bury their brother’s body, Ismene’s traditional beliefs are illustrated as she exclaims, “We are only women, we cannot fight with men, Antigone!” (1.Prologue. 46-47). In this quote, Ismene echoes a traditional sentiment that women are less than men and should not attempt to stand up to men as they will always fail; Antigone breaks tradition and convention to argue that women can and should stand up to men, especially when it means glorifying what is morally right and honoring the gods. In ode IV, Sophocles uses the chorus to compare Antigone to mythological figures who were glorified for following the gods’ laws, while ignoring her traditional sister, Ismene. The chorus chants, “Deathless Fate found means to build a tomb like yours for all her joy” (1.Ode IV. 33-34). By comparing Antigone to a host of honored figures, Sophocles glorifies her, illustrating the idea that women can earn honor through doing what is right, just as men can, and venerating the nontraditional woman over her traditional sister. Hence, Sophocles glorifies the nontraditional Antigone by likening her imminent death to

Sophocles first presents Antigone as a fighter when she brags about her crime to Creon, refusing to be subordinate to him simply because she is a woman. Antigone defends her crime, explaining “[Antigone] dared. It was not God’s proclamation. That final justice that rules the world below makes no such laws” (1.2.57-58). Antigone is steadfast in her beliefs in the face of powerful men who expect her to yield and repent; she demolishes gender stereotypes that represent women as fragile and lesser than men. Even in the face of her death, Antigone refuses to apologize for her crime, defending her beliefs to the last. As guards lead her to her death, Antigone declares, “I have done no wrong; I have not sinned before God” (1.4.66-67). When faced with the ultimate challenge, death, Antigone holds onto her belief, fighting against Creon and slaughtering his belief that she will eventually give in to him; in his portrayal of Antigone as a fighter, Sophocles defies the stereotypes that portray women as more passive and peaceful than men. Through his depiction of Antigone as a strong woman who unwaveringly defends her beliefs, Sophocles uses the image of Antigone the fighter to destroy the prevailing stereotype that characterizes women as more submissive than