Rights And Social Structure Of Women In Antigone By Sophocles
The rights and social structure of women
The play Antigone written by Sophocles, is a story about a young woman who breaks the decree law by burying her brother, and is being punished for disobeying the law. She thought what she did was right, even if it meant there was a consequence such as putting her life at risk. Creon, the recent new king of Thebes, and also the young girls, Antigone 's uncle found out that she broke the law and sentenced her to death. She is willing to do anything to carry on with her plan of giving her brother, Polyneices an honorable and proper burial. Since Creon gave their brother Eteocles a proper one, she believes that he is wrong for not giving Polyneices one. Antigone goes against the rules of society because of her bravery, and chooses that she wants to be a voice for all women, because in Greek society women don’t have a say on what they can and can’t do. Her bravery helps her rebel against those rules so they have equal rights compared to men.
When Ismene hears what Antigone is planning she is worried because she is afraid to disobey the men who expect highly of her. She feels women are ruled by men because they are weak and Antigone has asked Ismene to help her in breaking the law, and to giving her brother a proper burial. By doing so Ismene knows that the law Creon has established is going to be broken. She tells Antigone, “We are only women, we cannot fight men” (Prologue 48). Ismene believes that women are in no position to question the
Antigone Quote Analysis
837 Words | 4 Pages(Sophocles 193). Antigone is confident and even surprised that Ismene wasn't willing to join her in her protest. Creon is a tyrant that was power hungry, and too controlling of his family and the people who lived in his city. Antigone saw this overuse of power and could stand to bear it anymore. She had to bury her brother because that was what she believed was right.
How Does Creon Show Loyalty In Antigone
899 Words | 4 PagesAround 441 BCE, the ancient writer Sophocles wrote the tragedy Antigone, a play about loyalty, betrayal, and pride. Throughout the scenes of the play, calamitous occurrences take part, mainly involving the two main characters: Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, and Creon, King of Thebes and uncle of Antigone. Antigone, an independent, uncompromising young woman, simply wants to bury her deceased brother who was recently killed in battle. However, Creon, seeing Antigone’s brother as nothing but a traitor to his country, enforces a law which makes it illegal to give a burial to the remains. Not only does Creon’s unyielding decision cause conflict between himself and Antigone, it will also prove to be a fatal decision.
Women's Empowerment In Sophocles Antigone
1735 Words | 7 PagesSophocles 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
Sacrifice In Antigone
765 Words | 4 PagesIn the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, burial customs of the ancient Greeks play an extensive role. The women of the family perform the burial rites, and believed that if their distinct methods were not followed, the soul is destined to suffer between worlds until the correct rites were performed. Antigone, the sister of Polynices and Eteocles, is aware of this and is not going to stand by and let her brother, Polynices, linger between worlds in pain, after being killed by Eteocles. With her ambition and determination she does the deed, and of doing so she follows the god's laws, but breaks Creon’s laws in the midst of it. Creon is also aware of the burial rites but still decides, through his stubbornness, that Polynices shall not be performed these rites, because of his actions against Thebes.
Comparing Homer's Iliad And The Code Of Hammurabi
704 Words | 3 PagesShe 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.
The Destruction Of Pride In Sophocles Antigone
406 Words | 2 PagesIn the scene in which Creon will not allow her brother to be buried. This goes against her personal beliefs she confronts Creon when she says “if I had allowed my own mothers son to rot, an unburied corpse that would have been an agony.” Creon wouldn’t allow Antigone brother to be buried even tho Antigone felt it was the right thing to do. Antigone is talking to Ismene about burying her brother but Ismene tells her to keep the idea a secret but Antigone disagrees and says “But I know I’ll please the ones I’m duty bound to please.
Similarities Between Antigone And The Lottery
1104 Words | 5 PagesShe has a heroic and courageous personality. Throughout her quest to bury Polyneices, Antigone encounters many hindrances along the way. The death of her father Oedipus led to her greatest disputant being given power, her Uncle Creon. He would show her no mercy for breaking his laws, until it is too late. Even when her sister Ismene states “Our own death would be if we should go against Creon And do what he has forbidden!
Roles Of Women In Unbroken And The Book Thief
1064 Words | 5 Pages(Book 13, 396-403) Greek literature sometimes showed signs of female empowerment, but most mortal female characters were nothing more than wives or maids. Antigone was one of the few exceptions. She was strong, smart, and didn’t care what people thought of her. She was fearless, unlike her sister Ismene, who felt limited in her options because she was a woman. She did not think a woman could ever bury her brother’s body,
Creon And Antigone
1707 Words | 7 PagesThese sorts of character serve a particular purpose in the context of the plays. They are a foil against which the plights of the true focuses can be highlighted. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, is presented as the typical woman of the age. As such she is entirely against Antigone’s plan to act against the state. She asks her sister, “Shall we not perish wretchedest of all, / If in defiance of the law we cross / A monarch 's will?”
Sonny's Blues And Antigone Comparison
1062 Words | 5 PagesTo begin, Antigone put her own values above society 's rules set by Kreon. When she expresses her plan to bury her brother, Ismene says,
Women's Role In Antigone Essay
736 Words | 3 PagesWhen Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, her intention to bury their brother against the orders of their uncle, Ismene states that she will “. . . obey the men in charge. My mind / Will never aim too high, too far” (pg. 3). Antigone is a stark contrast to Ismene, who wishes to stay within the bounds of traditional society by staying obedient and submissive to men. Antigone has her own mind however, and is not afraid to make her own decisions.
Gender Roles In Antigone
483 Words | 2 PagesGender 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.
Internal Conflict In Antigone
759 Words | 4 PagesIsmene 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
Theme Of Punishment In Antigone
526 Words | 3 PagesIsmene tells her sister that they are only women and not fit to challenge men (105). Ismene says this to convince her sister not to bury their brother as it not only against the law, but wrong for a woman to challenge the orders of any man, let alone the king. She warns Antigone that acting above one’s place would not be a wise decision (105). Ismene knows that if Antigone is caught burying their brother, her gender will surely affect the harshness of her
Essay On The Role Of Women In Antigone
1335 Words | 6 PagesThe 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
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