Compare And Contrast Antigone And Ancient Greece

Around the time where Greece was known to be the greatest civilization on earth, many people used myths and stories as an extension of their belief because they were culturally significant and important. Ancient Greece was a male-dominated civilization that created laws which would benefit only those with power, which let to the suffering of those without power. The relationship of the sexes was very important, because it showed how men were more superior and woman were frowned upon because they were treated more like minorities. Aeschylus’ “Agamemnon” is about a Greek king who would do anything, including sacrificing his daughter, because he feels as a man and a king whatever decisions he makes are always just. Sophocles’ “Antigone” is about a girl who goes against the religious values of the society, and get persecuted because state laws restrict her

Ismene is the sister to Antigone and the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. In the tragedy “Antigone” both Ismene and Haemon have a great love and both of them would die for Antigone; in this case Haemon did. This is depicted in Sophocles’ tragedy “Antigone” written in the 5th century Greece BCE. “I shall do no dishonor. But to act against the citizens, that’s beyond my means.” (Sophocles 194, 88-89) Ismene stated this when Antigone confronted her at the beginning of the play to ask her for her help in bury their brother’s body, this would be Polis because she prefers to do what is accepted by the state. “Not at my side! Don’t think that! She will not die next to me. And you yourself will not ever lay eyes upon my face again.” (Sophocles 220, 762-764)This proves that Haemon cares only for his individual needs rather then doing what his father as told him, which was to totally forget about Antigone. Haemon and Ismene both embody Oikos and Polis because they both have different values on whether they should look at individual needs or the need given by the