Gender Roles In Antigone

Imani T. Brown

ENG 1202

5/6/18

A Woman’s Place

Life cannot be without a measure of darkness, trials and tribulations, for success would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. A women’s place in society has been a constant bumpy road when it has come to adding equality into women’s roles in society. Sophocles exposes the unequal power relevance between men and women in 441 B.C. as Thebes has a conflict between Antigone and Creon unfolds in his play Antigone.

The initial conflict in Antigone is that of the society in which she lives. King Creon and sister Ismene’s actions represent the personality of the society as a whole; full of fear and unequal gender biases. First representation can be identified in Ismene’s statement to Antigone, “You must realize we are only women, not meant in nature to fight against men,”(70-71) This statement points out the taught inferior mindset that women have in the Ancient Theban society, as well as gender specific stereotypes and assumptions that cause civil obedience. Ismene follows this statement by saying “And that we are ruled, by those who are stronger, to obedience in those beneath the earth, to give me their forgiveness, since force constrains me that I shall yield in this to the authorities. Extravagant action is not sensible. (72-78)” implying that male-only rulers are

stronger than she and all other women, so strong that she is willing to disobey what she is conscious the God’s want of her.
Death is crucial to the formation, manifestation, and elaboration of social structures and hierarchies. (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014) Creon’s ruling in the beginning of the play appears to be that of an extremist; bypassing any gender biases because he mainly speaks of honoring Eteocles and making the traitor repay through death with improper burial. However, later on when it is revealed who committed the crime of burial, Creon is bashful of Antigone. Initially Creon thought it could only be a man to go against his word and was surprised it ended up being a woman, Antigone. Antigone is full of rightful determination and is able to uncover Creon’s intentions as a ruler. The ultimate penalty for whoever buries Polyneices is death, meant to scare people from doing dishonorable actions. Antigone considers this a strange kind of punishment that offends her religious values and loyalty towards her family, yet Creon will not waiver when she explains this to him.
Women are seen to be distractions.

Evidence is seen in Creon’s statement “Do not, my son, banish your good sense, Through pleasure in a women, since you know, That the embrace grows cold When an evil women shares your bed at home” (699-702) Creon is trying to turn Haimon against Antigone which initially seemed to be a success until Haimon switches back to thinking in her favor. Creon ops to continually reiterate throughout the play that his authority would not be overlooked without consequences to whoever broke his spoken law. As a man Creon’s focus was mainly on making a name for himself. “So we must stand on the side of what is

orderly;
We cannot give victory to a women. If we must accept defeat, let it be from a man,
We must not let people say that a woman beat us.” (728-731) the order denying Polyneices to be buried is Creon’s first decision as ruler. Under these two circumstances, it would be understood to be the best opportunity to notify the members of his household and all the Theban population of his orders and that they are not to be overlooked. With a closer look at Creon’s attitude and actions have reveal that gender bias plays part in his decisions and responses.
It isn’t until Haimon breaks the silence on what’s morally right that others start to speak up. “Creon is prejudiced against women and would not tolerate any act he considers as insubordination from their part.” (Gender Pride as Tragic Flaw in Sophocles') Women roles in society depicted in the play were limited. The Chorus of Thebes were composed of wise men, yet, are thought to have an equal understanding of both sides without having female members. The chorus is there to advise Creon on the matters of society. Tiresias tells Creon that his stubborn decision not to bury Polyneices and his execution of Antigone for the burial will bring many curses of the gods down on Thebes. Initially hearing this Creon is upset with Tiresias, going as far as to even call him a false prophet who gives poor advice. Creon accuses all prophets of being as hungry for power as he. Another prophet urges that the rites for the dead are the determined by the gods and humans can only rule only on earth. Creon is so passionate on his decision to not lose to a women that he will turn the other cheek to those who have his best interest at heart.
As Antigone unfolds so does the expectations of behavior expected of women and the reality of their role in society. Creon expects men to be the primary decision makers in society and women to play partial and subservient roles to men. Prideful Antigone challenges these norms as she carries out a forbidden act in exchange for a just one. She challenges the men around her think beyond their power and not forget about what is right and just. She does not quiet herself due to trouble because being quiet about what is right is cowardly. All these challenge the roles of women in ancient Greece society.

Works Cited
Works Cited
OWOEYE, OMOLARA KIKELOMO. "Gender Pride as Tragic Flaw in Sophocles' Antigone." Journal of Research in Gender Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, July 2012, p. 102. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=edb&AN=83192292&site=eds-live&authtype=sso&custid=s8475574.

Scott, Michael. "The Rise of Women in Ancient Greece." History Today, vol. 59, no. 11, Nov. 2009, p. 34. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=edb&AN=45086611&site=eds-live&authtype=sso&custid=s8475574.
Håland, Evy Johanne. Rituals of Death and Dying in Modern and Ancient Greece: Writing History from a Female Perspective. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=e000xna&AN=860156&site=eds-live&authtype=sso&custid=s8475574.
Quotes
ISMENE
- You must realize we are only women,
Not meant in nature to fight against men,
And that we are ruled, by those who are stronger,
To obedience in those beneath the earth
To give me their forgiveness,
Since force constrains me,
That I shall yield in this to the authorities.
Extravagant action is not sensible. (70-78)

CREON
…. Find this man
Who with his own hand did the burial?
And bring him here before me face to face (337-339)

- Yes, there are other fields for him to plough. (624)

- Do not, my son, banish your good sense
Through pleasure in a women, since you know
That the embrace grows cold
When an evil women shares your bed at home (699-702)

- So we must stand on the side of what is orderly;
We cannot give victory to a women. If we must accept defeat, let it be from a man,
We must not let people say that a woman beat us. (728-731)