ipl-logo

Dissimilarity In Antigone

583 Words3 Pages

If you had to chose between burying your brother or being arrested, what would you do? Ismene, a minor character, values family ties and the laws of the gods over the laws of man, but is not brave enough to stand for her beliefs. Antigone, a powerful headstrong woman, refuses to let the ideal gender-roles of the Greek society hold her down. She rebels against the ideals of society in belief that her brother, Polyneices, should have a proper burial. Therefore, like oil and water do not mix, neither do Ismene and her sister Antigone. Antigone’s true motives are portrayed through the sisters controversy and their dissimilarity in beliefs.
Through their initial conversation, Ismene characterizes Antigone’s egocentrism. Threats of becoming “a traitor to [her] family” Antigone seeks to influence Ismene’s thoughts to match her “strange” feelings by guilting her to be “a true sister” (Sophocles 492). Using threatening words the author establishes the significance of the familial unit. The threat …show more content…

Ismene tries to take partial blame for the burial of Polyneices, Antigone refusing “I should not want you” (Sophocles 493). This represents Antigone’s enormous pride for her actions and loyalty to her family. The next encounter between Ismene and Antigone, Ismene's choices show how Antigone wants all the attention for herself. Creon also begins blaming Ismene a “snake” for the crimes Antigone has committed. Ismene shows her caring archetype by admitting “I am guilty… I want to die with you” Antigone quickly becomes enraged, “I will not have you...You shall not lessen my death by sharing it” (Sophocles 504). The argument between the sisters depicts how Ismene’s caring traits reveal Antigone’s true motives to seek all the attention for herself. Ismene, a minor character, serves the role of a foil to Antigone by emphasizing her narcissistic

Show More
Related

  • Ethos Pathos Logos In Antigone

    549 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the prologue, Antigone tries to convince her sister, Ismene, to agree to

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Antigone And Letter From Birmingham Jail

    1065 Words  | 5 Pages

    After her brother’s death, Antigone wanted to bury his body since no matter what her brother had done, he was still her brother. However, if she did bury him, it would be breaking the law King Creon had set up. Ismene kept telling and trying to persuade Antigone not to bury him but Antigone calmly tells her, “I will bury the brother I love. (Prologue, 69)” Even though Ismene told Antigone about the consequences of her planned action, Antigone was completely fine with

    Read More

  • Antigone Team Survivors Essay

    895 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the first moments of the play, Antigone is opposed to her sister Ismene, because she was afraid Antigone wanted

    Read More

  • Creon's View Of Government In Sophocles Antigone

    863 Words  | 4 Pages

    Antigone, who feels the same love for both her brothers, decides to bury her Polyneices, even though Creon will put anyone to death that tries to. She tries to get Ismene involved, but she refuses to break Creon’s law. Antigone gets caught in the burying of her brother and Creon sends her to

    Read More

  • The Destruction Of Pride In Sophocles Antigone

    406 Words  | 2 Pages

    ”(Sophocles Pg 4) Antigone is going to bury her brother but Ismene thinks it’s a bad idea and tells her to keep it on the low but Antigone thinks she is going to please the ones who agree with her.

    Read More

  • Ethos, Pathos and Logos in 'Antigone' by Sophocles

    1197 Words  | 5 Pages

    “I shall be hating you soon,” (193). Antigone then transitions into a more emotional form of persuasion, by threatening the relationship between them if she is to not join in on her plan. This targets the guilty conscience of Ismene which is normally what tends to push people to agree with the arguer, although it can be seen as a slightly manipulative tactic. Despite Antigone’s passive aggressive argument with Ismene, she fails to convince her to join the burial and carries out her mission on her own. However, the sentry Creon sent to spy on the grave spots her and brings her to Creon as the guilty

    Read More

  • Antigone Rhetorical Analysis

    932 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the play Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates the conflict between family and God through the characters of Antigone, Ismene and Creon. Antigone being ambitious and strong willed throughout the play, fights for his brothers honor and proper burial while Ismene on the other hand, is more timid fears the consequences that may occur if the laws are broken. For Creon he is the King and holds most power, until the Gods feel he is incapable. Antigone, Ismene and Creon all use logical and emotional appeals to achieve a compromise to either bury Polynices or not.

    Read More

  • Antigone And Carrie Soto Is Back: Character Analysis

    1132 Words  | 5 Pages

    Polyneices and Eteocles both die tragically in battle. Creon believes that Eteocles died noblely and therefore deserves a proper burial, but Polyneices died a “traitor” and doesn’t deserve a burial at all. Antigone rightfully believes this to be absurd, she thinks both of her brothers deserve a proper burial. This leads Antigone to make the brave decision to bury her brother against Creon’s will. Antigone then urges Ismene to help her and that it is the right thing to do, but Ismene insists that it is wrong to go against Creon.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Foil In Antigone

    880 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the Greek tragic drama, Antigone, by Sophocles Ismene is a foil of her sister. There are many characteristics that exhibit this, such as, Ismene’s lack of courage, how she chooses to follow civil laws over the laws of the gods, and finally, how Ismene cannot stand up for herself. There are many instances in the play where these traits are are exhibited. One way that Ismene is a foil of Antigone is because she lacks courage.

    Read More

  • Creon's Mistakes In Antigone

    686 Words  | 3 Pages

    The burial of Polyneices is viewed nobly, yet Antigone is not faultless in that act. One of Antigone’s largest mistakes is that she burns bridges with those that care about her. Pleading with Antigone, Ismene laments “why would I care to live when you are gone?” (548). Antigone dismisses this heartfelt plea by deferring Ismene to Creon, thus isolating herself from her only kin.

    Read More

  • Antigone Conscience Vs Society

    710 Words  | 3 Pages

    “How could I live on alone, without my sister.” (Sophocles, page 32) She tries to take credit for the burial with Antigone. Ismene is distraught when Antigone rejects her and so she tries to appeal to Creon, asking him how he could kill his son’s bride-to-be. When Creon brushes off her pleas, he sentences her to be sent to the dungeons with Antigone.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Antigone

    483 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ismene trembles in feat because her life could also be in danger for being the sister of Antigone. Throughout all the family drama if Antigone dies Ismene will be the only descendant from Oedipus alive. Ismene is worried and says, “Antigone I am so afraid for you” (3) because she knows Antigone will die soon. Ismene tells Antigone to be intelligent about her actions and not eager to respond to situations.

    Read More

  • Antigone Noble Death Analysis

    1059 Words  | 5 Pages

    Later in the argument, Ismene comes up to them to try to take responsibility in the act with Antigone. Then, Antigone interjects saying, “No, you may not die along with me. Don’t say you did it! You wouldn’t even touch it [The plan to bury their brother]. Now leave MY death alone.”

    Read More

  • Internal Conflict In Antigone

    759 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ismene has an internal conflict for not trying to help her sister when first asked, which is the reason for her trying to take some blame in the acts Antigone had done. Antigone and Ismene are both to be put to death but Creon relents on the executing off Ismene. Before Creon did so, Ismene is scorned by Antigone for her late attempt for trying to be righteous. Ismene has always believed in loyalty and has always been loyal to her family. Even though she made a late decision and it is rejected by Antigone she is still loyal to her family by offering her help after she denied it to Antigone the first

    Read More

  • Civil Disobedience In Antigone

    1353 Words  | 6 Pages

    Antigone’s actions are motivated by her allegiance to her family, moral conscience, and religion amid Creon’s political injustice and tyranny. Antigone’s actions motivate her to demand Ismene to prove whether she is “a true sister or a traitor to your family” (26-27). Antigone maintains loyalty to her brother despite his actions which threatened Thebes. Her inability to bear the thought of her brother’s corpse being picked apart by animals and not being honored with proper funeral rites forces her to act. Antigone’s fierce allegiance to her family is laid bare as she is willing to sacrifice her life to honor her brother and defy the law in an act that she believes is morally just.

    Read More

More about Dissimilarity In Antigone

Open Document