Theme Of Equality In Antigone

Equality and the Viewpoint of a Story From a Minor Character 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 power 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. On the outskirts of Thebes, Ismene, daughter of Oedipus whom was the king of Thebes, has just heard the decree that she and Ismene’s sister, Antigone, cannot bury their
Ismene plainly reveals that she wants to die for her. Ismene describes that her life is meaningless without Antigone. Ismene tries to convince King Creon not kill Antigone by saying that his own son, Haemon, is in love with her and they are bound to be married. She tries to appeal to King Creon’s emotions of his son and attempts to bring Antigone out of the death sentence. But with this decision, Ismene fails and Creon then orders her away and Antigone to her place of rest. Creon speaks a comical statement saying, “Even brave men run when they see death coming.” Ismene then cries for her and her sister’s sins. Ismene then believes Haemon is the only hope for the freedom of Antigone. Throughout the rest of the story, King Creon’s stubbornness is eluded by the great prophet, Tieresias. When the Choragus persuades Creon’s stubbornness, he gives in and understands the error of his ways. Creon, with anticipation, runs down to sealed tomb of Antigone and opens it to see that she has hung herself. Haemon with a high end of grief then tries to kill his father, but fails miserably. Haemon then kills himself