Antigonick, the modern translation of Sophocles’ original work by Anne Carson, uses a unique poetic style to delve into the classic Greek tragedy with updated references in language and the inclusion of history throughout the translation. As impressive and easy to read this version is compared to the classic translations, Carson’s choices lead readers down a road of controversy. One controversy is whether or not Antigonick is a feminist text based on the gender roles portrayed throughout the story line. While Carson’s translation of Antigonick has evidence of being a feminist text, especially when examining the character of Antigone, the text also contains numerous misogynistic references in its plot, which can be seen through the characters
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Ismene is essentially telling Antigone she will not be able to stand up to Kreon, who is forbidding the proper burial of Polynices, and win simply because she is a woman. According to Ismene, no matter what Antigone does she will be inferior to Kreon due to her gender. On the next page Antigone says she will go against man, but her sister replies, “sweet sister, you aim too high”, further justifying the fact that Ismene does not believe Antigone is doing the right thing. As if saying a women shouldn’t strive to achieve any goal she sets her mind to. While Ismene does provide proof of the misogynistic nature of the characters in Antigonick, Eurydike provides even stronger …show more content…
Not once does Kreon mention his wife, how important she is to him, nor does she have any role until her monologue at the end, which Eurydike addresses when she says, “it’s her only speech in the play, you may not know who she is” (39). In addition, the one monologue she does have is written in the third person, using statements like, “this is Eurydike’s monologue” (39). By writing the monologue this way, Carson was able to make it seem as if Eurydike wasn’t the one talking in the first place, further ensuring Eurydike as a nonexistent character. Instead, the audience can be tricked into thinking someone else is speaking for her. One of the most interesting parts of Eurydike’s monologue is after she says, “you may not know her”, and she says “that’s okay” (39). Carson made Eurydike sound like an unimportant part of the storyline who is only there because she was written into Sophocles original
Ismene is essentially telling Antigone she will not be able to stand up to Kreon, who is forbidding the proper burial of Polynices, and win simply because she is a woman. According to Ismene, no matter what Antigone does she will be inferior to Kreon due to her gender. On the next page Antigone says she will go against man, but her sister replies, “sweet sister, you aim too high”, further justifying the fact that Ismene does not believe Antigone is doing the right thing. As if saying a women shouldn’t strive to achieve any goal she sets her mind to. While Ismene does provide proof of the misogynistic nature of the characters in Antigonick, Eurydike provides even stronger …show more content…
Not once does Kreon mention his wife, how important she is to him, nor does she have any role until her monologue at the end, which Eurydike addresses when she says, “it’s her only speech in the play, you may not know who she is” (39). In addition, the one monologue she does have is written in the third person, using statements like, “this is Eurydike’s monologue” (39). By writing the monologue this way, Carson was able to make it seem as if Eurydike wasn’t the one talking in the first place, further ensuring Eurydike as a nonexistent character. Instead, the audience can be tricked into thinking someone else is speaking for her. One of the most interesting parts of Eurydike’s monologue is after she says, “you may not know her”, and she says “that’s okay” (39). Carson made Eurydike sound like an unimportant part of the storyline who is only there because she was written into Sophocles original