Roles Of Women In Antigone

Sophocles is noted for his incorporation of female characters into his plays and his particular attribution of heroic characteristics to the character, Antigone. The contrast between Antigone and Ismene depicts the traditional roles of women in Greek society versus the untraditional and atypical heroic roles of women. Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, that she does not fear Creon’s edict that those who seek to bury their brother will face “public stoning in the town… for it shows if you are noble, or worthless, despite your high birth” (37-39) This outright defiance of patriarchal law is iconic and is an example of the emphasis the Ancient Greeks’ place on courage and strength for the heroes. Nevertheless, it is an example of Antigone’s pride