In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Antigone and Aristophanes’ Greek comedy Lysistrata, gender roles play an important part in understanding the motives of the characters. Traditionally in ancient civilizations, women’s roles were limited to the home, but both playwrights contradict this by having the lead roles in their play go to female characters, both of whom use their gender as a way to defy power and stand for their cause. Antigone and Lysistrata believe in their cause enough to go against male leaders, who do not appreciate being told what to do by a woman. Sophocles and Aristophanes use the stereotypical stay-at-home woman’s role to influence the actions of their lead characters, which challenge the governing power in defense of their views
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Antigone feels that Ismene and herself had been through too much in their lives as the daughters of Oedipus to see her brother be dishonored following his death in the war. With both women aware of the law from King Creon, they approach it with different mindsets. Ismene addresses the stereotype that women should not be involved in the law when she says, “If we went against the order? Two women on our own faced with a death decree- women, defying Creon? It’s not a woman’s place” (Sophocles, 10). She knew what was expected of a woman at the time and her place in society, except she eventually tried to take responsibility by claiming to have helped Antigone when they face Creon together. Antigone, however, sees this as an opportunity to honor the gods and her brother, no matter the risk. She tells Ismene, “I will bury him myself. And if death comes, so be it. There’ll be glory in it… The gods will be proud of me” (11). She doesn’t want to back away from helping her brother just because it wasn’t accepted for women to challenge the king. She wanted to do what she believed was right in the eyes of the gods, even if that meant risking her life. Antigone knew that society wouldn’t approve of her actions, but the idea of leaving her brother behind was too much after all that she had gone through in her past. Her sense of …show more content…
After she explains why she dishonored him, he immediately begins to feel threatened. One of the first things he says is, “When she defied the general order Antigone had already gone too far, but flaunting that defiance in my face puts her beyond the pale. Who does she think she is? The man in charge? Have I to be the woman of the house and take her orders?” (30-31) Creon doesn’t know how he should respond to Antigone standing up to him, but he begins by addressing the stereotype and mocking it. Even the king knew that the women were expected to stay at home and take care of the house, so he is surprised when Antigone does the opposite. Creon becomes defensive throughout his conversation with Antigone and Ismene because they defy the typical role and aren’t afraid to do it when facing him directly. Before sending the women away, Creon says, “Women were never meant for this assembly. From now on they’ll be kept in place again and better be…” (38). He is concerned that the actions of these two will influence others to do the same and threaten his power over Thebes. Antigone used her role as a woman to her advantage as she faced Creon. She caught him off-guard by disobeying his law and standing up for herself in his presence, eventually forcing him to reverse his decision to have her
Antigone feels that Ismene and herself had been through too much in their lives as the daughters of Oedipus to see her brother be dishonored following his death in the war. With both women aware of the law from King Creon, they approach it with different mindsets. Ismene addresses the stereotype that women should not be involved in the law when she says, “If we went against the order? Two women on our own faced with a death decree- women, defying Creon? It’s not a woman’s place” (Sophocles, 10). She knew what was expected of a woman at the time and her place in society, except she eventually tried to take responsibility by claiming to have helped Antigone when they face Creon together. Antigone, however, sees this as an opportunity to honor the gods and her brother, no matter the risk. She tells Ismene, “I will bury him myself. And if death comes, so be it. There’ll be glory in it… The gods will be proud of me” (11). She doesn’t want to back away from helping her brother just because it wasn’t accepted for women to challenge the king. She wanted to do what she believed was right in the eyes of the gods, even if that meant risking her life. Antigone knew that society wouldn’t approve of her actions, but the idea of leaving her brother behind was too much after all that she had gone through in her past. Her sense of …show more content…
After she explains why she dishonored him, he immediately begins to feel threatened. One of the first things he says is, “When she defied the general order Antigone had already gone too far, but flaunting that defiance in my face puts her beyond the pale. Who does she think she is? The man in charge? Have I to be the woman of the house and take her orders?” (30-31) Creon doesn’t know how he should respond to Antigone standing up to him, but he begins by addressing the stereotype and mocking it. Even the king knew that the women were expected to stay at home and take care of the house, so he is surprised when Antigone does the opposite. Creon becomes defensive throughout his conversation with Antigone and Ismene because they defy the typical role and aren’t afraid to do it when facing him directly. Before sending the women away, Creon says, “Women were never meant for this assembly. From now on they’ll be kept in place again and better be…” (38). He is concerned that the actions of these two will influence others to do the same and threaten his power over Thebes. Antigone used her role as a woman to her advantage as she faced Creon. She caught him off-guard by disobeying his law and standing up for herself in his presence, eventually forcing him to reverse his decision to have her