Gender Bias In Sophocles Antigone

Around 405 B.C, the Oedipus trilogy was written by Sophocles. Throughout the play, Sophocles creates an undertone of misogyny which greatly effects the female characters decision making and views of themselves. Some character react differently than others. For example Antigone chooses to go against gender roles while Ismene chooses to except the way things are. In the Greek tragedy, “Antigone” by Sophocles, the motif of gender bias helps establish the character of Ismene as a conditioned, insecure and fickle woman.
The notion of gender bias portrays Ismene as a conditioned individual because society forced the belief that women are less capable than men to guide her rather than her own personal thought. This idea gradually destroys Ismene’s …show more content…
However, Ismene expressed fickle behavior when she finally defended what she believed was right with her sister, Antigone, only to be too late. When Antigone asked for help, Ismene refused, saying “Go then, if your feel you must you are unwise” which implies that she made the wisest decision by following the civil law and fulfilling the standard in which the women of Thebes were expected to live by. Later, Ismene abandons the stereotypical woman role. What motivates this change is unclear but the reader can see Ismene doesn’t know exactly what she stands for. She uses ignorance make up for her fickleness. For example, when she says, “But now I know what you meant and I am here to join you, to take my share in punishment.” Ismene tries to present herself as the people of Thebes perceived most women, helpless and naïve, but is denied sympathy or support from …show more content…
Ismene could reshape her morals and begin to think independently. Overall, the motif of gender bias establishes Ismene as an adversary to Antigone but may change her in the