Similarly, both women's decision and actions starts their tragic path. Antigone is decided to bury her brother, Polynices, being aware that disobeying will lead to death. While talking to her sister, Ismene, she said "he has no right to keep from my own"60. Antigone believes that as the woman of the family is her responsibility to bury her brother and it's the law of god which should overrule the law of state. She doesn't fear confrontation and admits to Creon that it was her who bury his body at the time of accusation. Antigonie says "give me glory! What greater glory could I win than to give my own brother decent burial?"561 She believed her death was her glory. Her pride and ambitious way to be remembered made her fearless of death.…
Antigone’s passionate monologue portrays her character as a compassionate sister possessing considerable honor and admirable morality. As she awaits her inevitable execution at the hands of king Creon, Antigone muses over her willful decision to properly bury her brother, Polyneices. King Creon had made…
The most significant theme in Sophocles’ Antigone is whether or not the law of man conquers divine law. Amidst the play, the newly crowned king Creon proclaims that the body of Polyneices will not receive a proper burial, but instead will be publicly shamed and left to be preyed upon by wild animals. Upset with Creon’s mandate, Antigone mourns the death of both of her brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, and gives Polyneices a proper burial so he can move on to the afterlife.…
In Sophocles' play "Antigone”, the ideas of obeying the law of one’s community and following ones own moral beliefs come into conflict. The plot revolves around two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices having killed each other in an attempted to gain rule and their Uncle Creon gaining power after their deaths. He orders Eteocles given an honorable funeral and Polyneices to be left in the streets to rot. Creon believes that Polyneices' body shall be condemned to this because of his civil disobedience and treachery against the city. However, the dead brothers’ sister, Antigone, believes this unfair to Polyneices and insulting to the Gods.…
When Antigone asked her sister Ismene to help bury their brother, Ismene denies, saying that she “shall obey to those who are in authority (Sophocles line 67).” However, Ismene changes her mind later on and wants to share the punishment with Antigone for keeping her plot a secret. Ismene admits, “I share in bearing the responsibility (Sophocles 537).” Antigone’s courage inspires Ismene to join her, even though she wants Ismene to stay away, which shows that Antigone is a credible leader. Ismene, not Antigone, was then in control of her own…
An infuriated Antigone intends to defy the law and bury her brother Polyneices. She says “I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory.” Antigone’s sister Ismene warns her against defying the city and thinks it is a losing battle.…
5.) Ismene is the foil for her stronger sister. In comparison to Antigone she has almost no agency, primarily because she is terrified of disobeying men in power.…
In Sophocles’ Antigone, Antigone, on the other hand, believes her act of civil disobedience to bury Polyneices was justified due to her belief that the laws of the gods should be carried out above any man made law, including those declared by Kreon and that those who have passed away before her must be honored. In the beginning of the play, Antigone tries to convince her sister, Ismene, to bury the body of her brother. Ismene, at first, was skeptical, for she knew it was Kreon’s decree that no one shall bury Polyneices for he was a traitor to the state. However, Antigone thought otherwise. Antigone states, “I’ll lie there, dear to him, with my dear friend, when I’ve performed this crime of piety; for I must please those down below a longer time than those up here, since I shall lie there always. You, though, if you think it best, dishonor what is honored by the gods” (Sophocles 22-23). Antigone believes burying her brother is of higher standards than to follow the laws of Kreon, for the gods must be worshiped above all else and she follows her principles to the very end. A king may rule the land, but the gods rule all and it is this mindset that Antigone possesses that allows her to fulfill the gods’ wishes. Later in the play, when Antigone is questioned by Kreon himself, she denies nothing and bluntly states that his mortal laws are no match to the laws of the gods. She claims, “It was not Zeus who made this proclamation; nor was it Justice dwelling with the gods below who set in place such laws as these for humankind; nor did I think your proclamations had such strength that, mortal as you are, you could outrun those laws that are the gods’, unwritten and unshakable. Their laws are not for now or yesterday, but live forever…” (Sophocles 38). Antigone followed through her decision to bury her brother because the gods’ laws are eternal. It was Antigone’s strength to stand by her…
Sophocles creates a strong sense of devotion and resolve through her actions as she is seen as a martyr for her cause. Antigone follows what is just in the world that Sophocles creates. He does not reflect that same quality in his portrayal of Ismene. Ismene is more fearful of Creon’s laws, she holds reverence towards her brothers, but is not as eager as Antigone to sacrifice herself to uphold a divine law. This is shown when she responds to Antigone’s call to action, “We are only women, We cannot fight with men, Antigone! The law is strong, we must give in to the law” (191-192). In her response Ismene expresses her lack of strength and fear, Sophocles portrays her as less righteous than Antigone. Although Ismene later retracts her refusal, Sophocles still frames this act in relation to Antigone. The nobility in Antigone’s conviction to the law of the gods is further shown through Ismene’s change of…
King Oedipus, Antigone’s father gauged his very own eyes when he found out that his wife is his mother, and her beloved brothers: Eteocles and Polynices, who killed each other in combat for the throne of Thebes. Ideally, royalty problems are kept behind closed doors; they have responsibilities and they should be cautious of their single movement or action. On the contrary, her flesh and blood family is not the typical royal family they should be in the eyes of the public. However, her father, mother, brother Eteocles, and her ancestors, all their deaths was granted with grace to be happy in the afterlife. She couldn’t allow Polynices to be left out of the family’s happy underworld union, the family is stronger together than separated. Despite the fact that there is no private disgrace for her family, Antigone’s goodwill and her traditional beliefs gave her the courage to fight for her rights and does a rightful…
Compared with her sister, Antigone seems unruly and passionate about her struggle. Antigone is the opposite of Ismene, being slender and outspoken. She refuses to obey Creon, who is not only a man, but also her king, her uncle, and her future father-in-law. It is possible that she choose to take a stand against Creon simply because he symbolizes everything that would block a feminist from progressing as a woman in Thebes. Antigone is essentially battling against a symbolic figure that modern-day feminists have been battling against for years. Without the support of her sister, Antigone decides to march on…
After Oedipus, the king of Thebes becomes exiled; his two sons Polynices and Eteocles become the joint rulers of Thebes. After both brothers argued over whom deserved the right to become the king, they decided to duel for the throne. Because of this dual, both brothers killed each other and now the question is who should rightfully become the next in throne. Antigone, by Sophocles was a story about a young woman, Antigone, who betrays her own uncle, Creon, to bury her brother. After reading this short play, I believe that Antigone was right to bury her own brother’s body.…
Without even contemplating the repercussions she would face, Antigone selflessly decides to bury her brother against her uncle’s will. She states, “I will bury him by myself. And even if I die in the act that death will be a glory” (Sophocles 63). She shows her perseverance in standing by her morals by saying this. She says she will bury him her self, displaying how proud she truly is of her pious rebellion. Her willingness to jump into the hands of death, for a sacred burial of her brother, is uncanny. When confronting her sister, Ismene, about her plan to bury their dear brother, Ismene feels that it is the unlawful thing to do so decides not to participate. Ismene then tells Antigone that she will support her sister silently, and will not tell anyone of it. Antigone’s response is, “Dear…
In the play, "Antigone," by Sophocles; Antigone learns that King Creon has refused to give a proper burial for the murdered Polyneices, brother of Ismene and Antigone. Enraged by this wrong-doing, Antigone shares the tragic news with Ismene. From her first response, "No, I have heard nothing," Ismene shows her meekness and helplessness in the light of Creon's ruling. From the start, Ismene is characterized as traditionally feminine. She plays the part of a helpless woman that pays no mind to political affairs. Because Ismene doubted the wisdom of her sister and her plan to break the law and bury Polyneices, Ismene argued with Antigone. Ismene argued saying, "We who are women should not contend with men; we who are weak are ruled by the stronger, so that we must obey...." Once again Ismene's words clearly state her weak, feminine character and helplessness that she withheld. Antigone, not happy with her sisters response reprimands her sister for not participating in her crime and for her passivity by saying, "Set your own life in order."…
Ismene and Antigone can be looked at as siblings who fight. For example, Ismene doesn't seems to be involved in anything risky or rule-breaking. She did want to dis obey Creons wishes. She is obedient or a "good girl". Antigone on the other hand is very stubborn, she wants things done her way. Antigone doesnt care about Creons wishes. Ismene obeys what she is told while Antigone is more rebellious and does not care for what Creon has to say, or anyone for that matter. This is important because it shows that Antigone doesn't care who tells her what to do, she wont do it. This rivalry brings more interest to the story. Some readers can relate to this "Sister Rivalry", . In the story Ismene says "Wilt thou persist, though Creon has forbid?" Meaning, will Antigone really go against Creons wishes? Antigone replies, "What right has he to keep me from my own?" (Page 5) In other words, who is Creon to tell her what do to? He is no God? This shows how Ismene obeys Creon and Antigone does not. At the end of the story Antigone and Ismene both agree to go against Creon which is what most siblings do in the end. Ismene and Antigone can be looked at as siblings who fight. For example, Ismene doesn't seems to be involved in anything risky or rule-breaking. She did want to dis obey Creons wishes. She is obedient or a "good girl". Antigone on the other hand is very stubborn, she wants things done her way. Antigone doesnt care about Creons wishes. Ismene obeys what she is told while Antigone is more rebellious and does not care for what Creon has to say, or anyone for that matter. This is important because it shows that Antigone doesn't care who tells her what to do, she wont do it. This rivalry brings more interest to the story. Some readers can relate to this "Sister Rivalry", . In the story Ismene says "Wilt thou persist, though Creon has forbid?" Meaning, will Antigone really go against Creons wishes? Antigone replies, "What right has he to keep me from my own?" (Page 5) In…