Antigone through an Anarchist and a Feminist lens by Mansour AlSubaie
Antigone the Ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles can be interpreted through several types of critical lenses. It can be best analyzed by an Anarchist and a Feminist lens for the following reason; the act of Antigone’s standing against Creon. In addition, to the act of Polynices going against Eteocles. These parts of the story are inspired by several cultural background tradition. Including the treatment of women which was a great issue in Ancient Greece for many years. Furthermore, creating a rebellious, strong and independent female character is considered revolutionary at the time of the play. So despite that these terms were not invented at the time of the play, it definitely
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Feminism plays a major role in hundreds of cultures, as it raises attention to civil liberties of women across the globe. Applying this to Antigone, it was certainly against the norm of a typical ancient Greek woman to rebel against a male authority. This is reason to believe that Antigone may have shown signs of early feminism. Women in ancient Greece were generally fearful that rebellion against male authority would lead to unfortunate circumstances. The fact that Antigone went against the orders of Creon shows definite female power. Antigone followed her beliefs strongly, and ignored the threats of higher powers telling her to do otherwise. Antigone took responsibility for her actions, and did not try to hide the fact that she was rebelling. Finally, the fact that Antigone commits her own death at the end, shows her unwillingness to accept male …show more content…
During Sophocles’ lifetime there was a patriarchal society bordering on Androcrac. Also Ancient Greece’s government systems were absolute monarchies Nonetheless, women were still regarded as objects, even by those people considered 'liberals' and 'republicans'. Women were treated as second-class citizens as they were not allowed to own land unless nobility, viewed as inferior to men in basically every
The Broken Mirror of Loyalty Antigone, a classical Greek tragedy by Sophocles. One of the most common ideas expressed by the play is loyalty and dedication, primarily pertaining to the characters Antigone, Creon, and Haimon. Loyalty is conveyed by Sophocles as twisted and abstract. Creon’s pride clashes with his self-proclaimed devotion to the state, while Antigone’s ideology of honoring her family conflicts with her sister.
In Greek society, women had few rights and hardly moved from their place next to men. Antigone defies all stereotypes and traditional images of women in Greek society. Creon feels she is a menace to him and eventually sentences her to death for treason.
Antigone had the right to challenge the government. Because as every human being we all have a different points of view. In the past, women were less valued. There were two different plays written by Sophocles in the Ancient Greece, “Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone”. In fact, “Oedipus Rex” is considered his greatest work.
The famous feminist, Gloria Steinem, once said,”Women are not going to be equal outside the home until men are equal in it.” This central idea of equality is relevant to the story Antigone by Sophocles. Considering the circumstances of the story, the minor character, Ismene, is conflicted with standing by the beliefs that men are overall rulers and powerful over women. Ismene’s emotions and mood fluctuates through the story in a horrible manner. To tragedy unto despair is a major theme in Sophocles most famous tragedy, Antigone.
Antigone and The Importance of Gender in Ancient Greek Culture In Ancient Greece, there was a social hierarchy onto which everyone fell in one category or another. There were the free and the enslaved, the Greeks and the foreigners, the rich and the poor. Gender was an important aspect in this hierarchical society in which Sophocles’ Antigone (Sophocles) takes place. The men had their roles as the leaders of society, participating in politics, law, and the military.
Sophocles play “Antigone” introduces a lot of debatable topics such as Human law vs Divine laws, pride, but most importantly the topic of woman’s movement for empowerment. Long before 442 B.C.E, women were belittled because of their gender however, after the birth of “Antigone” it demonstrated a strong outreach towards women and their roles in society ”Antigone, a woman who defines King Creon’s edict without any fear, doubts, or regrets. This courageous woman, the fruit of incest, has fascinated philosophers in the nineteenth century, inspired playwrights in the twentieth century, and intrigued feminist thinkers and activists for decades” (Söderbäck). Birth from a respected bloodline, Antigone doesn’t feel respected at all within her town, especially from her uncle Creon who became entitled as the King after Antigone’s blood
In Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone and Creon are the main characters, each a girl and a boy. Antigone is an assertive and bold young woman in her community where women are seen as just subjects. Creon perceives women as beneath him. Sophocles portrays the women in the play with no rights nor any freedom. Gender roles are portrayed over and over in the play by blatantly disrespecting women and giving men all the power.
What is worth mentioning in Sophocles’ play is that he not only showed the weak side of women but also the strong ones. For example, Ismene is the traditional role of women in ancient Greek—coward, fear of men power and feeble. For Ismene, "we must remember we were born women, not meant to strive with men" (Antigone). She even chose to die with Antigone while hearing her sentence, for she was afraid that she would be alone, she could not be able to fight against Creon, this men-dominant society. In contrast, her sister Antigone presents the “women power”.
Antigone: I think she leans towards humanism, from what I saw in the beginning of the play. She ignores the King’s wrath, and feels the need to bury her brother despite risking her own life. She tells Ismene that it must be done. She proceeded to Creone that she did not abide by his laws, but rather God’s laws. She believed that it was better to treat her brother, as she wanted to provide for one another, under her faith in God.
Him putting Antigone to death because she went against his power clearly shows his feminism towards women. This also shows that all males had full power over society, economy, and women, which isn’t fair. Antigone displays her feminist qualities when she goes against the most powerful male, the king Creon. Her going against him shows her disrespect for Creon, her doing this and speaking like a male figure shows her push for equality between the sexes. Antigone throughout the whole play pushed for equality but she never seemed to get what she wants.
We are only women, We cannot fight with men Antigone!” (Prologue Lines 45-47). While Ismene would gladly obey the laws set forth by her Uncle, Antigone would rather die than let her brother’s body be desecrated. She refused to give up no matter the obstacle in her way. At the end of her crusade, Antigone is condemned to be buried alive in a tomb by Creon.
Although both Antigone, from “Antigone” by Sophocles, and Martin Luther King Jr. from “Letter From A Birmingham Jail” engage in acts of civil disobedience and fight for what they believe to be right, the way they go about these acts is quite different. Each of their reasons, actions, and consequences can be seen as opposites. Antigone refuses the help or involvement of others, which can be seen as a selfish act directly against the king while Martin Luther King Jr. involves the entire community to help the greater good. Antigone is a character who stands up for what she believes in to a point of direct civil disobedience toward the king, Creon. She puts the laws of the gods over the laws of her authority.
It is well known that for much of history, females have been largely oppressed and given few rights, unlike the male gender. Traditionally, a women’s role in society was to be a submissive housewife and to raise children. In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, a young woman goes against the law to give her dead brother a proper burial, defying the typical role expected of a female during this time period. Antigone can be seen as a role model for women because she knows her own mind, stands up to her uncle, and sacrifices herself for someone she loves. Women during this time period were expected to listen to the men in society and follow their rules.
Gender roles play a significant part through ought the play Antigone due to the fact that men are treated on a higher scale than women. Sophocles portrays women as people with no rights nor freedom. Antigone is on a destiny for burial rights of her brother Polyneicis. Gender roles are expressed throughout the play Antigone by disrespecting women and men having power and freedom.
The play Antigone written by Sophocles is a Greek tragedy which incorporates themes of divine law vs. man made law ,conventional role of a woman vs. a defiant role portrayed by a woman, but the very essence of the play and other major themes are created with the defiance of the conventional role of women shown by Antigone. This is the primary aim of the essay. A little insight into the Greek society gives us a brief idea about the status of women and help do a comparative study with the unique character of Antigone and her role in the development of the plot. Women in ancient Greek were considered inferior to men in every sphere ,from the intellect to the physical state. Their freedom was monitored by the dominating male in the family