In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Ismene and Antigone attributes are extremely different from each other. The main difference between the both of them is that Antigone creates change through the play with her bravery while Ismene hopes that she can make a change without any action. This difference is mainly shown through the decision to whether or not to bury their brother Polynices. Antigone is brave and foolish throughout the play while Ismene is cowardly.
Antigone specifically shows her bravery when she risks her life to have Polynices buried with honor, while Ismene worries for her sister’s safety and cowards from disobedience. At the beginning of the play even Antigone questions if Ismene is a coward or not “You’ll soon show what you
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are, / worth your breeding, Ismene, or a coward / for all your royal blood” (Sophocles 43-45). Antigone asks Ismene if she is going to help bury their brother Polynices, and then Antigone tells her that if she does not assist in the burial, then she is a coward. Antigone asks Ismene “Will you lift up his body with these bare hands / and lower it with me” (51-52). Ismene responds by saying “What? You’d bury him-- / when a law forbids the city” (53-54). Antigone asks directly for Ismene to help her bury their beloved brother, but Ismene is too cowardly to break the laws set forth by Creon, Ismene is not willing to do a honorable deed by defying the law, she cowards while Antigone carries on without her sister. Antigone breaks a law in order to protect a vulnerable family reason and that she accepts her punishment, that is why Antigone is brave. In the play Creon has put a death bounty on whoever decides to bury the remains of Polynices, but even that bounty could not stop Antigone from honoring her beloved brother, “I will bury him myself.
/ And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory” (85-86). This act and Antigone's loyalty to her brother forms the main plot of the play that helps enhance the play. Antigone shows her true bravery, because she is willing to die to honor her brother, that even death does not scare her from doing the proper thing. Ismene on the other hand, shows her true cowardice by denying Antigone’s request to help her with the burial and is scared to disobey Creon’s law “I’d do them no dishonor . . . / but defy the city? I have no strength for that” (92-93). Ismene admits that she doesn’t have the strength like Antigone to disobey the law that is set forth, therefore it shows her inaction to make a change. Antigone responds by saying “You have your excuses. I am on my way, / I’ll raise a mound for him, for my dear brother” (94-95). Antigone believes that Ismene is just making excuses, because she is too scared to break the law and is just trying to find a way to get Antigone’s approval so that she doesn’t feel like a coward letting down her
brother. Antigone's devotion and bravery to her brother is shown when she declares that she'll bury Polynices despite Creon's law. This behavior continues throughout the play, with Ismene willfully agreeing to most of Creon’s statements, and Antigone taking many risks which shows her bravery. In the play Creon demands Ismene to confess her part in the crime even though she had no part in it “Come, tell me, / will you confess your part in the crime or not? / Answer me. Swear to me” (601-603). Ismene responds “I did it, yes-- / if only she consents-- I share the guilt, the consequences too” (604-606). Creon demanded Ismene to admit her part in the crime, and Ismene willfully confesses to his demand, even though she did not commit a crime with Antigone. Antigone shows her bravery when is caught by the sentry and questioned by Creon, Creon says “Do you deny you did this, year or no” (491). Antigone responds by saying “I did it. I don’t deny a thing” (492). Anitgone specifically shows her bravery in this conversation, because she does not try and lie or alter the blame, she accepts what she has done and is willing to take her punishment. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Ismene and Antigone attributes are opposites of each other. The difference between the both of them is that Antigone does what is right and honorable to bury her brothers and shows bravery while doing it. Ismene hopes that she can make a change without any action, but decides not to intervene or help Antigone and it shows her true cowardice. This difference is mainly shown through the decision to whether or not to break Creon’s law and bury their brother Polynices. Antigone is brave throughout the play while Ismene is scared and cowardly. A big theme that Antigone leaves by is family devotion. Antigone even sacrificed her own life to uphold that theme; her determination becomes symbolic for her family loyalty.
Antigone and Ismene, although sisters, are almost opposites. While Antigone is bold, proud, and stubborn, Ismene is timid, obedient, and scared. She warns Antigone that
Choosing to follow authority and the law is admirable and important in order to have a stable society; however, prioritizing family over all is imbedded in humanity. Family is part of one’s identity and greatly affects one's morals and opinions. If a person solely lives a rigid life, following authority over family, then compassion and the ability to be flexible is lost. Sophocles poses if authority or family is superior through the characters Antigone and Creon as their actions and opinions drastically contrast. Creon puts more importance on his rule and the law, while Antigone emphasizes the devotion to her bloodline and the gods. Antigone, although depicting that authority and the king’s rule is important, puts more importance
At the beginning of the play, Antigone brought Ismene outside the city gates at night for a top secret meeting. Antigone wanted to bury her brother Polyneices' body because even though he died in dishonor he was her brother. Ismene refused to disobey the king which is also their Uncle Creon, and she failed to talk Antigone out of doing the act herself. "Consider, sister, how our father died,/hated and infamous; how he brought to light/his own offenses..Then, mother...did shame/violently on her life, with twisted cords. Third, our two brothers, on a single day...Each killed the other, hand against brother's hand." (Antigone, Lines 59-65) In this quote, Antigone justified her reasons for going against the law describing how her parents went through so much, how their father was banished and due to this their mother had committed suicide because her reputation went down to the drain, even after all that their two brothers went into battle against one another and died in the process. Ismene was sympathetic, but still she was noble and afraid of Creon so she did not offer her help to Antigone.
Antigone can be described as a woman who valued her family, valued her self respect and expect a great deal out of life. On the other side, Antigone's uncle Creon can be described as a practical man who valued his state over the individuals. Also, he valued his duty as a leader. First, both Antigone and Creon were strong willed and inflexible people. They refused to change their decisions. For example, Antigone refused to listen to her sister although she had told Antigone that they were women and they can't do anything about it "Remember we are women, we're not born to contend with men." Another similarity was that Antigone and Creon sealed each others fate. That's when Antigone decided to bury her brother although she knew that anyone who disobeys the laws will be killed. They were so independent. For example, Antigone was independent when she decided to bury her brother's body by her own after her sister Ismene refused to participate with her. Moreover, Creon was independent because he refused to accept anyone's opinions except his own. To illustrate, when his son haiemon came to talk to him and he refused to listen "Stop- before you make me choke with anger- the gods! You, you're senile, must you be insane?"(W). He also claimed that the Terisesais has been corrupted by money like other prophets.
Although both sisters have lost their brothers, Antigone is the only one who will go against her king to do what she knows is right. When Antigone asks her sister if she will help her bury their brother Polyneices, Ismene responds with, “We are only women; we cannot fight with men, Antigone! The law is strong; we must give into the law…” (Ismene 774). Naturally, Ismene should be afraid for herself, as well for the safety of her sister because what Antigone is asking of her will mostly likely cause them both to be killed. However, she should be braver like Antigone, and realize that she must do what is morally right for their family, and give her brother the proper burial that he deserves. Afterward, when Antigone has already been captured, Ismene then comes forth to try and share the punishment that has been given to Antigone, but Antigone tells King Creon that she has done nothing. In addition, when Creon asks Ismene if she had anything to do with the crime, and Antigone denies it, Ismene then replies, “But now I know what you meant; and I am here to join you, to take my share of punishment” (Ismene 785). Although now Ismene feels like she needs to stand up to the King and do what is right for her
Antigone shows the attribute of boldness. She is constantly going her own direction. She is a leader, not a follower. "Ismene: What? You'd bury him when a law forbids the city? Antigone: Yes! He is my brother and- deny it as you will- your brother too."(61). This is where Antigone's boldness begins to surface. She is expressing her disagreement with King Creon's law. This is extremely daring of her to do because she is defying the law of the land. On the other hand, Ismene displays the quality of being a coward. She says, "Remember, we are women, we're not born to contend with men."(62). On the contrary to what Ismene's brain tells her to do, her heart is screaming to go and bury her brother, and defy Creon's dishonorable law. It is not until the middle to end of the play that Ismene's true self emerges and she agrees with Antigone. This is just one of the ways Antigone and Ismene are the same at heart, but take different paths to get to their real inner person.
...assistance, resolves to give their brother a proper burial. Ismene feared helping Antigone bury Polyneices but offers to die beside Antigone when Creon sends her to die. Antigone, however, refuses to allow her sister to be killed for something she did not have the courage to stand up for.
In the beginning of the story Antigone went to Ismene to warn her about the new decree of King Creon. King Creon had sworn that no one was to bury him or even mourn for him. Antigone then told Ismene of her intentions of going against the new law and giving their brother the burial he deserved. Antigone then gave Ismene the choice to prove herself loyal to her family or betray it. Ismene stated that she could not go against the law of Creon. She felt that they could not go against Creon because they were only women and she was afraid of what their deaths would be like. At this point in the story Ismene was not willing to sacrifice her life for her brothers honor. She still wanted to help, but she was too afraid of what the punishment would be. For example Ismene stated, “I beg the Dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority.”
The book also has conflict between Antigone and her sister, Ismene. In the opening chapter, Ismene becomes central to this moralistic tale as she stands for all that was expected of women in Greece in 5BC. She alone, in her dialogue shows us, right from the beginning why Antigone is so brave in her decision to bury Polyneices when she says; “Two women on our own faced with a death decree – women, defying Creon? It’s not a woman’s place. We’re weak where they are strong. Whether it’s this or worse, we must do as we’re told.”
Antigone is the stubborn, free-willed sister who wants to do what’s right and not think about the consequences that will come to play in the future. “This female character takes on a rebellious role quite different from that of the other more docile woman of the time,” (Ashley Bouque). The quote talks about Antigone being different, while Ismene is more docile and does what she is told. Take the Woman rights movement, even though its thousands of years later. Before the Woman rights movement happened, woman did what they were told and followed the rules, like Ismene. After the movement, woman did what they thought were right to them and didn’t care about the rules, like Antigone.
Courage can have its limitations. Limitations, which are present within Sophocles ' play "Antigone". A tale focused on the protagonist Antigone, who goes behind her uncle and king, Creon’s, back to bury her brother Polynices. Within the story, Antigone tried to enlist her sister, Ismene’s help. To which Ismene had refused on the basis that they were women and were in no place to stand up against the king or the law (1567). However, in the third part of the play when Creon accuses Ismene of being an accomplice to Antigone’s schemes; contrarily to Ismene’s previous words, Ismene chooses to stand by her sister’s side. Although Ismene’s actions within the play Antigone can be considered as complete cowardice; through another perspective it may be noted that Ismene is not entirely without courage
In Antigone, by Sophocles, which centers around themes such as bravery in the face of death, civil unrest, and unyielding dedication to divine justice, it is easy to understand why Ismene’s character is often called cowardly, docile, and indecisive. However, this view of her undercuts the most basic facet of her personality, the one which is absent in Antigone — a will to live. With this in mind, Ismene’s personality is far one-dimensional, as there are certain traits she needs to embody in order to survive. She endured her tragic upbringing through rational thought and an optimism that others will do the same, all the while keeping her love for her unfortunate family intact. Though not fearless in the face of death, Ismene is a sympathetic character whose rationality, optimism, and loyalty are not to be underrated.
Antigone’s own excessive pride drives her to her defeat. Her arrogance and strive for self-importance blinds her to the consequences of her actions. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, rejects to take part in the crime leaving Antigone all on her own. Ismeme declares “why rush to extremes? Its madness, madness” (Sophocles 80). Ismene fails to comprehend the logic behind her siste...
She had also been able to share her thoughts and ideas with her sister Ismene. Throughout the play, Ismene changed her stance on death. In the beginning, Ismene was conflicted over the fate of Polyneices’ body. Ismene understood Antigone’s frustration, and why Antigone would want to give Polyneices a proper burial. Polyneices and Eteocles were Ismene’s brothers, as well as Antigone’s. Therefore, Ismene sympathized with Antigone, trying to have their family member’s soul rest in peace. However, Ismene also did not want to go against Creon’s law prohibiting the burial of Polyneices. Instead of being caught trying to get her brother the proper burial resulting in death, Ismene would rather live and attempted to talk Antigone out of breaking the law. Ismene pleaded to Antigone that there had to be another option; they would find a way to bury Polyneices but not have to break the law in order to do so. Ismene even tried to reach out to Antigone by saying that as women they were too weak to dig a grave in order to bury Polyneices. By not supporting Antigone’s decision, Antigone lost her trust in Ismene. Antigone saw Ismene as a traitor to their family by not respecting Polyneices’
From the start of the play, the audience is given a vague idea of both Antigone’s and Ismene’s characters. Both sisters have suffered the anguish of having lost their brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices. It is at the beginning of the play that we see Antigone’s braveness. She notifies Ismene of her intentions to bury Polyneices despite the fact that such an act is punishable by death, for Creon considers Polyneices to be a traitor and that by not having his body buried, Polyneices suffers a posthumous punishment. She makes this declaration while being fully aware of the penalties involved and this brings to light several other things about her character. The audience is able to see that she is confident in her actions and will justify anything that she does. Meanwhile Ismene can be viewed as being afraid and uneager to agree to an action. She confronts her sister’s statements by saying, “ But think of the danger ! Think what Creon will do ! ” (34, Prologue).This statement by Ismene create a vague feeling in the audience that Ismene is a pessimist. This view is further reinforced when she says, “ And do what he has forbidden ! We are women / We cannot fight with men, Antigone ! ” (46-47, Prologue). Hence Ismene is seen seeking a way out by giving excuses that are in a sense linked to negative stereotypes and this makes a reflection of her pessimistic nature.