In Sophocles' Antigone, gender biases are quite prevalent. Sophocles used the conflict between Kreon and Antigone to demonstrate this. Kreon would not listen to Antigone simple for the reason that she was a women, and the community viewed Antigone as rebellious for the same reason. However if she were a man, she would have been seen as strong-willed and standing up for what she believed in. Also, Sophocles used Antigone's sister, Ismene, as a portrayal of how women should behave in society.
In the time period of the play, women were not viewed as people, much less as equal to men. Men were held with respect, honour and their opinions were valued. However, women were considered half a person, and they were not allowed to have an opinion. …show more content…
Women had very distinct roles; to cater to the men, look after the children, cook, keep the house clean, and other gender specific jobs. If a women were to go outside of the idea of an ideal women she would be labelled as a rebel, and either jailed or killed. Yet, if a man were to do the tasks that a women did that were rebellious, he would just be seen as a strong man who believes strongly in what he did. Antigone buried her brother even though Kreon had issued a law against it, with the punishment being a public stoning and no proper burial when the one who had broken this law died. In ancient Greece, the greatest dishonour was not having a proper burial when one died. Nearly everyone in ancient Greece believed that if a deceased individual did not receive a proper burial their soul would be condemned to wandering on the banks of the river Styx, never being allowed to cross and join the Underworld. A considerable number of people feared receiving such a fate, so they would make the proper funeral arrangements, as to not be trapped between worlds. Polynecies received this dishonour and Antigone felt it unjust, which is why she buried him. Her honour and loyalty to her family was greater than her care for her well-being. She accepted her fate, so long as her brother could be peaceful in death. However, when Antigone did bury her brother, it was not a public stoning she received, but she was buried alive
In the time period of the play, women were not viewed as people, much less as equal to men. Men were held with respect, honour and their opinions were valued. However, women were considered half a person, and they were not allowed to have an opinion. …show more content…
Women had very distinct roles; to cater to the men, look after the children, cook, keep the house clean, and other gender specific jobs. If a women were to go outside of the idea of an ideal women she would be labelled as a rebel, and either jailed or killed. Yet, if a man were to do the tasks that a women did that were rebellious, he would just be seen as a strong man who believes strongly in what he did. Antigone buried her brother even though Kreon had issued a law against it, with the punishment being a public stoning and no proper burial when the one who had broken this law died. In ancient Greece, the greatest dishonour was not having a proper burial when one died. Nearly everyone in ancient Greece believed that if a deceased individual did not receive a proper burial their soul would be condemned to wandering on the banks of the river Styx, never being allowed to cross and join the Underworld. A considerable number of people feared receiving such a fate, so they would make the proper funeral arrangements, as to not be trapped between worlds. Polynecies received this dishonour and Antigone felt it unjust, which is why she buried him. Her honour and loyalty to her family was greater than her care for her well-being. She accepted her fate, so long as her brother could be peaceful in death. However, when Antigone did bury her brother, it was not a public stoning she received, but she was buried alive