Gender Bias in Antigone In Sophocles ' Antigone, gender biases are quite prevalently used to portray the inequality between men and women in a misogynistic society. Sophocles used the major conflict between Kreon and Antigone to demonstrate this ideology. Kreon, who was Antigone’s uncle and the ruler of Thebes, would not listen to her reasoning simply because she was a woman. To this effect, the community viewed Antigone as a rebellious, headstrong woman for the same reasons. However if she were a man, she would have been treated differently. Her strong opinions would make it seem as though she was a strong-willed person standing up for what she believed in. Also, Sophocles used Antigone 's sister, Ismene, as a portrayal of how women in ancient
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She was indifferent to the men who controlled her, and obeyed their every word. She was wholly afraid that if she did not listen by following the male ideology and abiding by their rules that she would be punished. She cared highly for herself and by following the rules dictated to her, she believed it would ensure she would live a long life. In the play, when Antigone suggests the idea of burying Polynices, Ismene immediately rejects the idea for fear of being caught and punished. "But think of the danger! Think what Creon will do!"(Sophocles, Antigone 14), Ismene is dismissing Antigone 's idea of burying their brother for fear of the punishment that would follow. She refused to disobey the law, despite this being her family and bringing honour to her brother. She believed that she was not allowed to stand against the law, "We are only women,
We cannot fight with men, Antigone!" (Sophocles, Antigone 46). She had been taught that women were not allowed to have an opinion or go against the rule of a man, and she believed that she, as a woman, was less than men. Therefore, Sophocles makes great use of conflict through love, tragedy, fear and punishment along with strong character development to portray gender biases throughout this play, Antigone. Furthermore, Ismene’s character development was used to portray an ideal female in a truly misogynistic society. The theme is craftily built using the ideal conflict of that time; a mere mortal woman facing off against a ruler of a great nation. It bring great emphasis to exactly how demeaned women were through their treatment in a strictly male dominated
She was indifferent to the men who controlled her, and obeyed their every word. She was wholly afraid that if she did not listen by following the male ideology and abiding by their rules that she would be punished. She cared highly for herself and by following the rules dictated to her, she believed it would ensure she would live a long life. In the play, when Antigone suggests the idea of burying Polynices, Ismene immediately rejects the idea for fear of being caught and punished. "But think of the danger! Think what Creon will do!"(Sophocles, Antigone 14), Ismene is dismissing Antigone 's idea of burying their brother for fear of the punishment that would follow. She refused to disobey the law, despite this being her family and bringing honour to her brother. She believed that she was not allowed to stand against the law, "We are only women,
We cannot fight with men, Antigone!" (Sophocles, Antigone 46). She had been taught that women were not allowed to have an opinion or go against the rule of a man, and she believed that she, as a woman, was less than men. Therefore, Sophocles makes great use of conflict through love, tragedy, fear and punishment along with strong character development to portray gender biases throughout this play, Antigone. Furthermore, Ismene’s character development was used to portray an ideal female in a truly misogynistic society. The theme is craftily built using the ideal conflict of that time; a mere mortal woman facing off against a ruler of a great nation. It bring great emphasis to exactly how demeaned women were through their treatment in a strictly male dominated