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Sophocles essay antigone
Analysis on antigone based on Sophocles tragedy
The role of women in ancient Greek society
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Imagine being born into a world where your social status is dependent on your gender, where women are considered inferior to men. This idea is exposed in two Ancient Greece plays “Antigone” by Sophocles and “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes. In both plays most women are considered inferior and do not go against rules established by men. However, there are some women who do not let men restrain them from expressing their feelings. Therefore, the women in Ancient Greece were considered inferior to men, however, they were gallant. In the Greek play “Antigone,” the main character is gallant despite the societal concept that women are inferior to men. An example of this occurs when Antigone and her sister Ismene are holding a conversation in which Antigone …show more content…
Ismene says “We are only women, We cannot fight with men, Antigone! The law is strong, we must give in to the law in this thing, and in worse. I beg the dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority.” This reveals that women knew that they could not contradict laws that were established by men. Ismene begged the dead to forgive her showing that she knew that Antigone was not doing anything erroneous, but she also says that she must yield to those in “authority” referring to men because she is considered helpless. However, Antigone is completely opposite, she replies “I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear To him as he to me.” This reveals that Antigone is not going to back down because laws established by men tell her to. Antigone is going to commit a crime disregarding the laws of the authority because she feels her action is correct. Thus, revealing that women such as Antigone were gallant in spite of the male concept that women were inferior to …show more content…
Did you think you were going up against a bunch of slave girls? Or did you think women lack gall?” Magistrate replies “Oh yes, they've got plenty of that, provided there's a wine bar nearby." This shows that Magistrate did not believe women were bold enough to stand up to men unless they were intoxicated. Magistrate did not believe that Lysistrata and the rest of the women were capable of taking over Acropolis. However, Magistrate did not strike fear into Lysistrata or the other women because they remained put in Acropolis, and went against rules established by men. Therefore, men such as Magistrate considered women to be inferior, however, women such as Lysistrata were gallant and stood up to
When Antigone comes to her sister for assistance in burying their brother’s body, Ismene refuses. While this may be seen as an example of her cowardly, docile nature, such as how the line “You ought to realize we are only women” (61) is often interpreted, it shows that Ismene was aware of where she stood in Theban society. It is common knowledge that Ancient Greece was a patriarchy, with women holding little to no political power. Even beyond the fact that she and Antigone are women living in a male-dominated society, Ismene recognizes how low their family has fallen, with herself and Antigone being the children of a kin-slayer and his wife. A reasonable person in Ismene’s situation would most likely have acted in a similar manner, as it would be far too great of a risk to defy Creon. Ismene was simply aware that no one would come to the aid of Oedipus’s daughters when they faced “the edict of death”
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.
When Antigone disowns her, it could be seen as a metaphor for the need to disown the weaker side of her nature. This sibling relationship should be further examined, because it has been largely ignored by other scholars and this relationship is rich with literary and political significance. “Most contemporary political theorists. have focused on the fearsome clash between Antigone and Creon. The relationship between Antigone and her weaker, more cautious sister Ismene has not garnered similar attention” (Kirkpatrick, 2001). Though Antigone as a character can be analyzed through the lens of law and political science, her relationship to a weaker sister is more than interesting.... ...
One of the conflicts in Antigone, is the struggle between men and women. Ismene tells Antigone that since birth, women “were not born to contend with men,” (75) displaying women’s obedience and passivity. In the same passage, Ismene says: “we’re underlings, ruled by stronger hands,” (76) a representation of men’s aggressive and “stronger hands” that dominate women and treats them as second-class citizens. The only woman in Thebes who desires to break free from these chains is Antigone, who stands up against Ismene’s passivity urging her to “submit to this,” (77) and defy Creon by burying Polynices. By breaking Creon’s edict, Antigone challenges the traditional gender roles women and men play. In what ways does the theme of gender in Antigone, demonstrate the passion and choices behind Antigone and Ismene’s decisions?
Through the works of the Greek playwright Aristophanes and the Roman historian Livy, the subservient role of women and ultimate powerlessness in ancient male dominated societies can clearly be observed. In both Aristophanes’ play Lysistrata and Livy’s The Rape of Lucretia, common women are
...e worst of deaths – death without honor.” In a way Antigone is blaming Ismene for not helping her but in a way she is not.
Antigone points out many things , however one of the main things that it points out is how bad gender inequality is back in the old day. It shows many examples of how many societies were run back then. It proves to me how women and men were portrayed in the Greece society, are the equal or different, what gender expectations do they follow or fight against?
While Ismene and Antigone are both very different, they both reflect the way women are viewed in Classical Greek society. Ismene believes it the total control of the law and that women have a place in society where they are “not born to contend with men” (75). She is so consumed with following the rules that she simply cannot fathom how her sister could bury their brother “when a law forbids the city” (54) from doing so. However when her sister’s life is threatened, Ismene steps up to try and share a “portion in [Antigone’s] death” (625) She is the perfect subject for any king to have because her life and decisions are based around the idea that people “must obey/the ones who stand in power” (79-80). All though in some ways this makes her
In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, it is greatly apparent just within the first few exchanges between Ismene and Antigone that there are various social issues surrounding the women in ancient Greece. The play raises many gender and socially related issues especially when looking at the contextual background of the playwright and the representation of the women within the play. When the characters of the first scene begin their analog, it is important to note what they are actually saying about each other and what their knowledge of their own social status is. The audience is first introduced to Antigone who we later learn is the antagonist of the play as she rebels against the protagonist, Creon. Her sister, Ismene, is the second character the audience is introduced to, hears of Antigone's plan to bury their brother's body in the first scene. Ismene’s actions and words give the reader the hint that her sister’s behavior is not usual, "so fiery" and "so desperate" are the words used to describe Antigone's frame of mind. At this very early point in the play the reader discovers that Antigone is determined to carry out her mission to bury her beloved brother. However, she is in no position that gives her the rights as a woman, sister, or even future queen to make her own decisions and rebel. Instead, her decision to bury her brother demonstrates her loyalty to her family, the gods, and to all women. Her motivation for those decisions will end up driving her far more than that of what the laws set by Creon have implemented. She shows no fear over disobeying the king and later says about the punishment of death "I will lie with the one I love and loved by him"(Sophocles, 2). Throughout the play the reader can see the viewpoint of an obedient woman, a rebellious woman, and the social norms required for both of them.
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
All women in the world face the same problem: lack of equality to men. Society makes people believe that men are physically stronger and more capable of leading a family, hence, society makes people believe that men are more superior to women. In the Ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone, the author, Sophocles, illustrates how society makes women feel inferior to men by Ismene’s actions. While Ismene’s sister Antigone wants Ismene to stand up against Creon’s edict with her, Ismene replies “We are only women, we cannot fight with men, Antigone!” (191). Ismene thinks that she will not be able to stand up against the Athenian government,which is ruled by men, because they are more powerful than women, she and Antigone have no chance against them.
In today’s society, women have overcome many hardships to become able to vote, able to run for public office, and even able to hold high business positions. Some people believe that such accomplishments are because of literary examples that have, over the years, lead women to believe in themselves, motivate them-selves, and stand up for themselves. In Aeschylus’ infamous Greek tragedy, The Oresteia, Clytaemestra, the leading woman, overcomes the Greek society’s slighting attitude towards women, grasping the most powerful position attain-able in Argos. Even after gaining power, Clytaemestra clutches this leadership desperately, unrelenting in her hopes to keep it forever. Although Clytaemestra uses intellect, inner strength, and self-motivation to capture power, she does it evasively and by hurting others. Therefore, Clytaemestra is not a respectable woman role model.
Although ancient Greece was a male-dominate society, Sophocles' work Antigone, portrays women as being strong and capable of making wise decisions. In this famous tragedy, Sophocles uses the characters Ismene and Antigone to show the different characteristics and roles that woman are typical of interpreting. Traditionally women are characterized as weak and subordinate and Ismene is portrayed in this way. Through the character of Antigone, women finally get to present realistic viewpoints about their character.
Walcot, P. “Greek Attitudes towards Women: The Mythological Evidence.” Greece & Rome 2nd ser. 31.1 (Apr., 1984): 37-47. Cambridge University Press on Behalf of The Classical Association Article Stable. Web.
Although Lysistrata is fighting for the equal political agency in a government dominated by white men, she ignores the earned citizenship of Athenian and Spartan slaves. By placing women’s rights over the rights of all people, Aristophanes’ alludes an equal society will always have a weaker class. Throughout the play, Lysistrata makes it clear that the purpose of her fight is to give a voice to the Athenian and Spartan women affected by war. Through her planning and strategizing, she focuses on how the women of both Athens and Sparta can rise in the political agency. She makes many claims as to how much the women of both city-states must give up whenever war is chosen over peace.