Essay On Feminism In Antigone

Nina Cardinale

Ms. Randinelli

English II Honors

Antigone Essay

Block 2

Feminism: the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. It has been a major topic around the world for hundreds of years. Feminists generally seek to bring about change by fighting for what they believe in, and are often considered to have personal strength and integrity. Although women have gained most rights they did not have before, there are still some drawbacks to our special rights that make us weaker than men. For example, men's products are cheaper than women's products at most drugstores. Also, men are paid more in their minimum wage amount than women. In this play, Antigone has many qualities of feminist literature due to her belief in the way she was treated and her actions.

It was certainly unusual of a typical ancient Greek woman to rebel against a male

authority. Creon, the current ruler of Thebes, declares Polynices as a traitor, and a man of dishonor. Because of this, a proper burial of Polynices is forbidden. The play shows that Antigone has a deep concern for her family, which is a major characteristic that contributes to feminist literature. This is because it shows how nothing can stop her, even it is illegal, to protect her family. Antigone always put her family before herself, which showed how brave and strong she was for a woman.
Antigone is a very strong and defiant leader, which comes out as another characteristic of feminist literature when she is compared to her sister, Ismene. Ismene is the perfect example of a stereotypical female in this time of history. When talking to Antigone in the prologue, Ismene shows that she believes women have to be subjugated to the wills of men when she says, “Think how much more terrible than these our own death would be if we should go against Creon and do what is forbidden! We are only women, we cannot fight with men, Antigone!” Ismene says that it is better if women don’t try to compete with men and just stay in the shadows. Antigone completely disagrees with this statement. She believes that she can do all of the same tasks a man can do, so she ignored her sister and went with her beliefs. Antigone took responsibility for her actions, and did not try to hide the fact that she was rebelling.
At the end of the story, when Antigone is locked up in jail for burying her brother, she eventually kills herself as a sign of not letting Creon think he is stronger than her.

The fact that Antigone commits her own death at the end shows her unwillingness to accept male conquer. Creon loses his right of authority in Thebes after she commits suicide because the citizens see that she was trying to do what was right in the eyes of the gods while Creon opposed her. All of her beliefs, actions, and all of the things that she is subjected to make the play a strong piece of feminist literature.

In conclusion, Antigone is a story that embodies what feminist texts are. Its strong and defiant female lead champions the fact that men aren’t the only ones who can be powerful, respectable, and the ones who make a difference. Antigone's strong feminist stance shows how her individual ideas and actions can be very effectual. Antigone's story is very influential and inspirational to many women around the world, and more people should look up to her, rather than down upon

her.