Antigone And Ismene Essay, Research Paper

The personalities of the two sisters; Antigone and Ismene, are as

different from one another as tempered steel is from a ball of cotton. One is

hard and resistant; the otherpliable, absorbing and soft. Antigone would have

been a strong, successful 90?s type woman with her liberated and strong

attitude towards her femininity, while Ismene seems to be a more dependent 1950?s

style woman. Antigone acts as a free spirit, a defiant individual, while Ismene

is content to recognize her own limitations and her inferiority of being a

woman. In the Greek tragedy ?Antigone?, by Sophocles; Antigone learns that

King Creon has refused to give a proper burial for the slain Polyneices, brother

of Ismene and Antigone. Infuriated by this injustice, Antigone shares the tragic

news with Ismene. From her first response, ?No, I have heard nothing?(344).

Ismene reveals her passivity and helplessness in the light of Creon?s decree.

Thus, from the start, Ismene is characterized as traditionally ?feminine?, a

helpless woman that pays no mind to political affairs. Doubting the wisdom of

her sisters plan to break the law and bury Polyneices, Ismene argues: We who are

women should not contend with men; we who are weak are ruled by the stronger, so

that we must obey….(346) Once again Ismene?s words clearly state her weak,

feminine character and helplessness within her own dimensions. Antigone, not

happy with her sisters response chides her sister for not participating in her

crime and for her passivity, saying, ? Set your own life in order?(346). For

Antigone, no law could stand in the way of her strong consideration of her

brother?s spirit, not even the punishment of an early death. Ismene is more

practical ; knowing the task is impossible, she feels the situation to be

hopeless. It is a wonder, which of the two sisters are really guilty of these

chronic charges. Of coarse, Antigone acted so quickly, and failed to take the

advice of the moderate sister, Ismene. Instead, going against Creon?s words,

Antigone rashly goes ahead and breaks the law. Antigone is a fool, she must

learn that such defiance, even when justified, is not conductive to longevity.

Although Antigone is foolish, she is also courageous and motivated by her

morals. Proper burial of the dead was, according to the Greeks, prerequisite for

the souls entrance into a permanent home. Therefore, perhaps Ismene is also

foolish for her quick refusal to help Antigone perform the duty of Polyneices

proper burial. Ismene definitely seems hasty in her acceptance of personal

weakness. Perhaps in some way, both sisters are guilty of the same tragic sins.

Perhaps it is this rashness, more subdued in Ismene?s case, that leads both

sisters to their own destruction. To my surprise, there is a strange twist in

both sister?s character towards the end of the play. Antigone makes a rather

contrasting statement, ?Not for my children, had I been a mother, Not for a

husband, for his moldering body, Would i have set myself against the city As I

have done?(368) These words defy rational explanation. To judge from her

attitude towards authority and law, Antigone would probably take on any task to

preserve family dignity and human justice. In Ismene’s final words, she abandons

her practical attitudes with a sudden rush of devotion towards the sister she

abandoned in time of need. ?Let me stand beside you and do honor the dead?(358).

Ismene heroically takes a stand and shares Antigone?s crime. The two sister?s

were crushed by the vindictive Creon, yet they were winners in spirit, in their

determination , they died together, as one. Nobility shall live in their hearts

forever.