Examples Of Sexism In Antigone

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.

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.

Antigone: Gender Difference and Power As we are all aware that for generations, gender difference and power have been an issue for centuries. That being said the play Antigone by Sophocles, displays many examples of these struggles. The main topics that will be discussed, are: Antigone’s background history in Oedipus the King, the conflict between Creon the king of Thebes and Antigone, the gender difference and power. In order to know who Antigone is, you must know some of her and her families background, which is from the play of Oedipus the King.

She dares to challenge the arrogant tyrant Creon by expressing her points bravely and furiously, trying to warn him that women do not always have the obligation to do what men command; she dares to protest the balance between duty and law, “…for it was not Zeus made such a law; such is not the Justice of the gods.” (Antigone), making her decisions in an equitable way and promise to find the real justice so as to give respect to her brother, Polyneices’ burial. Even though in the end Creon tries to give Antigone a lesson by putting her to prison, Antigone did not escape, for she understood that her action and pride would bring about these consequences, and she did not regret for doing this. In addition, we can also observe women power by seeing Creon’s words and behaviors. Creon’s hubris as a men affects how he thinks about women, he considered women as secondary creature.

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 Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Antigone, a woman’s individual conscience trumps state law when Antigone displays time and again that she values her divine motives higher than those of the state throughout the tragedy. Her continued defiance of the state’s authority marks the importance of her individuality through various scenes in Antigone. Knowing full well her role as a woman in a patriarchal society, Antigone goes beyond the powers of the common man to carry on morals of herself and family exceeding beyond immortality and death. Engulfed in the menacing misogyny King Creon set forth in the state, Antigone is determined to thrive and keep the sacred deeds of herself and family in tact despite the fate it bears. The character of Antigone exhibits

But Antigone did so anyways knowing the consequences were going to be brutal. This is significant because the sacrificial death of Antigone, who challenged a male counterpart is basically inevitable. This play challenged the beliefs of women during that day and age, giving them the power to criticize and proceed against an opposing male force. Without the sacrificial death, Antigone would only consist of the overpowering actions of King Creon. Her decisions and actions on challenging him was one of the main themes of the play.

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.

Women are viewed as lower class, or “slaves”. So when Creon heard of Antigone’s actions, he is in disbelief and thinks her actions should be punished by death. In response to Creon ordering her to her death, she sneered, “Then I beg you: Kill me… I should have praise and honor for what I have done.” She has accepted consequences and is welcoming her fate of death. She is proud in the fact she buried her brother

In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, the main character Creon goes through major character development as the story progresses. As King of Thebes, Creon establishes a series of decisions thought to be ethically correct for the city. However, many of his family members and townspeople disagree and revolt against his decrees and, as a result, leads to his downfall, making him a symbol of a tragic hero. One of those people is Antigone, the headstrong female protagonist who defies Creon’s orders in order to bring justice to her brother. Her conflicting motivations and rationale advances the plot and contributes to Creon’s development as a tragic hero.

Feminism includes to look for equal opportunities for women in education and employment. - Feminism movements fights for the rights of women for example the right to vote, to be able to do the work that men do, to earn equal pay as men, to receive the same education, to have equal rights in a marriage, etc. Feminists are also seen as a “right” that women have that will help them to stay safe from rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence, etc. - In other words Feminism is seen as a group of women who have the same goals.

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.

(Sophocles page 29) shows that Creon believes that no women in general has greater power than himself. While talking to Antigone in this scene, Creon would not listen to Antigone. In Creon’s eyes Antigone is in the wrong. Even if Antigone has a good reason to defend what has happened Creon would not change his

“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” from Coco Chanel: Life Lessons from the World's Most Elegant Woman. Yes!, a girl should be who and what she wants, women have the right to do anything , become what their goal . Gender equality is possible. Many men debates about women been less status than men but remember men are born from woman. If women can join the army than its proven that women are as strong and motivated as men in their work forces. Antigone's bravery causes the evil things to end. In the story Antigone takes place in Thebes ruled by Oedipus’s brother in law Creon,who became king of Thebes when Oedipus two sons died fighting each other. Creon Refuses to bury Polyneices but Eteocles had memorial. Antigone's encourages citizens especially women to step up and counter Creon’s laws, causing Antigone ire to bury Polyneices. Antigone gets caught by Creon's guards but he decided to persecute as breaking the laws of Creon. Creon believes that women should stay at home and are seen as tool for men Later on Tiresias who warns Creon to not to execute Antigone. Haemon son of Creon and fiance of Antigone. Haemon tries to convince Creon to considerate not to kill

It is a revolution that includes men and women who wish for the world to be a place of equality between genders. Feminism is amongst the many terms that are perceived differently according to each individual 's own view of how the world is and how it should be. directed towards advocating for gender and sex equality for women. Feminism is a movement that seek to achieve equality and social rights for women in all key areas which includes education, personal, economic, employment, and cultural sphere of human endeavours. Activists of the feminist movements usually social and political theories to campaign for women’s rights and freedom where sexuality and gender-based political thinking have created imbalances and inequality for the women in