Trailblazing Tragedy In Antigone

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In the play Antigone, Sophocles proves to be trailblazing playwright because of Antigone’s role as a defiant woman, Antigone’s rebellion against Creon’s law, and Haemon’s fight for her liberty. Antigone sets high morals for herself and by these actions, proves her point to the King. Creon displays his aggressive and misogynistic views to Antigone, threatening to take her life if she does not obey him. In return, Antigone shows she and Ismene deserve the right to bury their brother Polynices; she stands strong in the face of death, knowing that the gods’ words were greater than a mere king’s. Sophocles is thus proven as a trailblazing playwright because of how he takes the role a woman and uses her to emphasize women’s power and authority in …show more content…

As a woman in Ancient Greece, Antigone is limited to cooking, cleaning, and caring for children. Along with her responsibilities at home, Antigone, among other women, is crucial to the burial process of ancient Greece. The women helped plan all tasks before one is buried. After Antigone's brothers, Polynices and Eteocles, were killed it was immediately time to bury them. As Antigone tries to bury her brother, Creon declares “in this city he shall be neither buried nor mourned by anyone.”(Ant. 206-8). The King’s law leaves Antigone and Ismene with a decision, to break Creon’s laws and face death, or to let their brother remain stuck wandering outside the underworld. Antigone quickly makes the bold decision to bury her brother and face the fury of only a king versus the gods. Sophocles changes Greek theatre by making a woman stronger than a man. Antigone was able to stand up for herself and the rights of her family. She goes behind the King’s back, knowing her punishment, just to make sure her brother is taken care of. She exemplifies confidence in declaring “I assert that I did it; I do not deny it” (Ant. 453) She is fearless towards Creon, a man who could have her killed in an instant. Sophocles is thus proven as trailblazing because of how he writes a woman as strong a …show more content…

Women typically were submissive and quiet, not talking and always following directions. When Antigone rebels and forces her opinion on a man, especially a king, Creon swiftly . He now has to punish a woman for a crime he was sure a man commited. Creon and Antigone argue using harsh words while deciding her fate. Although she does change into a softer more willing individual Antigone is still not afraid to speak her

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