Antigone`s Women Essay, Research Paper

Antigone by Sophocles is one of the most distinguished pieces of theatrical work

that reflects upon Greek mythology and culture. Antigone has several themes and

circumstantial settings that can be indirectly referred or related to in modern

society. Sophocles uses various and strategically placed characters to present

his play as well as his themes. The play mainly revolves around Antigone who

acts alongside her elder sister, Ismene. Both are daughters of Oedipus and

Jocasta who are in the context of the play deceased. This essay will analyze

these two characters alongside one other female minor character, Eurydice who

contributes significantly to the development and success of the play. From the

start of the play, the audience is given a vague idea of both Antigone?s and

Ismene?s characters. Both sisters have suffered the anguish of having lost

their brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices. It is at the beginning of the play that

we see Antigone?s braveness. She notifies Ismene of her intentions to bury

Polyneices despite the fact that such an act is punishable by death, for Creon

considers Polyneices to be a traitor and that by not having his body buried,

Polyneices suffers a posthumous punishment. She makes this declaration while

being fully aware of the penalties involved and this brings to light several

other things about her character. The audience is able to see that she is

confident in her actions and will justify anything that she does. Meanwhile

Ismene can be viewed as being afraid and uneager to agree to an action. She

confronts her sister?s statements by saying, ? But think of the danger !

Think what Creon will do ! ? (34, Prologue).This statement by Ismene create a

vague feeling in the audience that Ismene is a pessimist. This view is further

reinforced when she says, ? And do what he has forbidden ! We are women / We

cannot fight with men, Antigone ! ? (46-47, Prologue). Hence Ismene is seen

seeking a way out by giving excuses that are in a sense linked to negative

stereotypes and this makes a reflection of her pessimistic nature. Antigone?s

actions at the beginning of the play reflect her impulsivness and rash manner in

handling situations. Rather than try to confront Creon regarding the burial of

her brother she goes ahead to bury him. Her impulsive manner is also seen when

she doubts Ismene?s promise that she will not divulge any information to

anybody else regarding Antigone?s plans to bury her brother. She does this

despite the reasonable consideration that Ismene is her only sister and family

member left. Her actions at this point also reflect on her indifference in

carrying out actions that reflect on others. She does not seem to care about the

fact that burying her brother may have unfavorable consequences on Ismene who

would lose her sister and at the same time be in a dilemma. Ismene would have to

risk telling the authorities and get her sister prosecuted so as to be a true

patriot and to save her own life or keep mum and be prosecuted for aiding and

abetting an offense alongside her sister whom she will eventually loose,

regardless of what she decides to do . This scenario presents a strong argument

that Ismene is considerate and rational as she eventually decides to keep

Antigone?s plans secret and continues to do so even when Antigone attacks her.

She responds by saying, ? But a loyal friend indeed to those who love.? (85,

Prologue). This demonstrates Ismene?s passive and unvengeful nature. Antigone

bears responsibility well and can therefore be seen to be responsible. When

brought before Creon, she admits her actions in burying Polyneices without much

ado, she audaciously confesses, ? I do. I deny nothing ? (52, ODE I, Scene

II). She goes ahead and justifies her action, and calmly makes it clear that she

is not afraid of the punishment due to be imposed on her.. In contrast Ismene

bears a sense of responsibility just like her sister. When brought before Creon,

she admits her role in Antigone?s ?crime? without hesitation, she says,

? Yes, if she will let me say so. I am guilty. ? This and the ensuing

exchange that follows between the sisters also brings to light other aspects of

the sisters personalities. One of the aspects that is brought out by this

exchange is that of loyalty. Both Ismene and Antigone are loyal to each other

even in a situation where it is at the expense of death. Ismene is ready to die

alongside her sister. At the same time Antigone cares too deeply for Ismene and

does not want Ismene to suffer the punishment of death. The idea that loyalty

exists between the two sisters is reinforced by the fact that Ismene, while in

the face of death, defends her sister. When Antigone is declared as having lost

her mind by Creon, she says, ? Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver,

King.? (153, ODE I, Scene II). Other events that had occurred earlier in the

play portray this feeling of loyalty and the sisterly love that exists between

Ismene and Antigone. Both sisters place family duty above everything else.

Ismene?s earlier caution at the beginning of the play can now be interpreted

as an act of sisterly love and concern. Eurydice who is Creon?s wife cum queen

and Antigone are emotionally impulsive. Antigone commits suicide when she is

sentenced to death and confined to a vault of stone. Eurydice in turn commits

suicide when she hears about the death of her son, Haemon. Hence both characters

can be seen as compulsive and quick to act rather than face the harsh reality of

suffering. All in all it can be said that Sophocles primarily uses the various

characteristics presented by Antigone, Ismene and Eurydice to develop his play.

Although of these characters are the same gender their characteristics differ

greatly and this lies in with the underlying themes of the play.

Bibligraphy

Sophocles. Antigone. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Literature

and the Writing Process. Eds. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk.

4th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice, 1996. 660-685.