A Literary Analysis Of Sophocles Ismene's Antigone

In the playwright, Antigone, by Sophocles Ismene’s main goal throughout the story is to prevent further tragedy and sorrow by reasoning with Antigone, her sister, with her rash decisions. For instance, Antigone and Ismene’s brother died fighting bravely without a proper funeral; so Antigone with her noble heart wanted to jeopardize her life for a dead loved one against their merciless king. However, Ismene did not want to see her beloved sister wind up dead over her brother so she said, “ But think of the danger! Think of what Creon will do.” Ismene wanted to keep the remainder of her family alive, so she knew that she had to make the “truth” clear to her sister. Therefore, she desperately tried to put things in perspective by making Antigone

herself “think of what Creon will do”. In addition, Ismene devoted a portion of her long speech to persuade Antigone not to go after their dead brother by agreeing with Antigone’s morals. “I beg the death To forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority.” Ismene’s attempts of reason did not sway Antigone’s decision, so she creates a hypothetical where she can make the decision to go after their brother rather than Antigone, to illustrate Antigone’s motivation of being idle being the honorable decision by begging “the death to forgive me.” Moreover, she was referencing to their dead brother willing to look over their decision of not honoring his death. However, Ismene does not feel as strongly as Antigone about her choice, but she was willing to alter her opinion in attempt to stop her sister. Ismene’s goal is to appeal logically and emotionally to save her sister Antigone.