Antigone By Creon Analysis

The Contrasting Opinions on the Position of Women in Sophocles’ Antigone In Sophocles’ Antigone, the idea that women are lesser than men is not only challenged, but also demonstrated. Antigone breaks the conformities for a typical woman in ancient Greek times, which makes Creon, a man who does not believe in women with power or intelligence, livid. After trying to persuade Ismene to join her, Antigone continues her already rebellious and abnormal behavior by breaking Creon’s edict to not bury Polynices. When Antigone is caught by guards, she is brought before Creon where she is sentenced to her inevitable death. However, Ismene rushes to her sisters side trying to take credit for the burial of Polynices—another atypical move of the general

Creon’s actions and words strongly suggest that he will not except or acknowledge any woman that believes she can be more than a worthless laborer to a man. Before Creon is told who has buried the body of Polynices, he questions the guard, saying, “What man has dared to do this?” (Ant. 22). Creon ironically asks what “man” would dare to disobey him, while the reader already knows that it was in fact a woman, Antigone, who disobeyed his law. Because the thought of a woman breaking his law most likely does not even enter his mind, Creon is more than shocked when he is told that, Antigone is the one who pays no heed to his edict. He tells her, “No woman will rule while I live” (Ant. 32). Creon’s reaction to Antigone’s disobedience is only worsened when he finds out that his son, Haemon, chooses the side of Antigone over his own father. Creon tries to express to his son that he will not have “bad wives” for his sons and that “there are fields just as fertile” (Ant. 35). Creon wants Haemon to agree with him that women are disposable and easily replaced when a man is in need of a family. Creon will not accept that any woman could be of any use, other than housework and child bearing, nor does he believe that any woman will ever be wiser or bolder than

A woman in the time and place Antigone is set does not usually challenge a man or any of his thoughts, words, or actions. Ismene appears weak and is afraid to break Creon’s edict concerning the burial of her late brother Polynices, who is believed to be a traitor. As Antigone pleads with her sister to consider honoring Polynices and perform the death rites with her, Ismene implores Antigone to “consider that we were born women, proving we should not fight with men.” Ismene becomes agitated as Antigone becomes stubborn and she retracts her offer, saying, “And if you change your mind now, I would not have you do it with me” (Ant. 15-16). Ismene dubs Antigone as a “daring girl” after her statement, knowing that women were not to challenge or defy a man, especially the king. Clearly Ismene does not seem as if she will ever embrace Antigone’s position—as she appears to accept and know her role as a woman—but, in her next appearance, she challenges everything she has previously said. Antigone has already broken Creon’s law and is standing proudly in front of him when Ismene rushes to her side and insists that Antigone allows her to share the credit with her and take the punishment at her side. Ismene tries to take the credit for the burial of Polynices’ saying, “I did the deed, if she consents,