Antigone And Malala Essay

Antigone and Malala; Comparing and Contrasting Activists

Sophocles’ Antigone and Malala Yousafzai share many similarities and have many differences through their actions. As females, Antigone and Malala face many challenges in regard to the government and the rules of society when persevering in the fight for their causes. Such challenges define their characters and provide similarities between them.

Within the life of Antigone and Malala, the activists are both females; thus thrusting them into a world of struggle that may be entirely avoided if they were male.

“Ismene: Rather, consider that we were born women, proving that we should not fight with men.” (Sophocles 15)

In the societies of Malala and Antigone, where the societies are predominately male dominated, the ability to speak out and act is much harder for women. As activists both Malala and Antigone choose to defy their governments and societies and continue to fight for their beliefs.

“Ismene : I do not dishonor them but to do this against the state – I have no strength for it.

Antigone: Use that excuse if you like but I indeed will go and heap a tomb for my dearest brother.” (Sophocles 16)

This quote illustrates the moment Antigone firmly decides to defy the government, Malala also decided to defy the government by using the radio to convey her message. Although Antigone and Malala share many similarities, they also have their differences.
Antigone and Malala have many differences, of these differences two Activists all have a cause to fight for, and in the case for Malala and Antigone, their causes differ.

In the story of Antigone, the ruler of Thebes, Creon, has decreed that only one of Antigone’s brothers shall be buried and the other not, as within her culture the highest form of dishonor is to not be buried. As a result of this, Antigone’s cause becomes to bury her brother, no matter what the price. Malala’s cause is far from the ability to honor a family member; she fights for women’s education. Another distinct difference between the two activists is the time period in which they live. Antigone lives in the classical era, where the Greeks fully believe that the Gods control everything, including curses (in the case of Antigone and

Oedipus).
“Antigone: Ismene my dear sister through common blood, do you know of any evil from Oedipus [Who has been long since dead] Zeus will not perform on us who still live?” (Sophocles 13)

This quote provides insight to the time period of Antigone as it portrays Gods as actively placing curses on certain families. The time period of Malala takes place in the recent past of the reader (1997 CE +), and elements of technology and groups effect her decisions and daily life rather than the curses and Gods of Antigone. Antigone and Malala have many differences ranging from causes to time periods that affect their ability to act on their causes and perform their daily lives.
Antigone and Malala have many similarities and differences. Such similarities include gender and the decision to defy the government. Apart from similarities, differences include causes as well as the time period in which the two characters live. In conclusion, Sophocles’ Antigone and Malala share many similarities and differences that are shown throughout their fights for their causes.