Femininity In Antigone

In the play Antigone written by Sophocles circa 400 B.C, women play a very important role. As the title of the work suggests, Antigone is the main character. She is defined as a young girl, with a very strong mindset. The play revolves around a conflict she has with her uncle, King Creon of Thebes. Antigone disobeyed the King’s orders and buried her brother, Polynices after he was murdered in a conflict that gave power to Creon. The motif of femininity is also affected with Antigone’s relationship with other characters, such as Creon, Polynices, and Haemon.

Hagel a german philosopher once argued that the relationship between Antigone and Polynices is the purest one in the play. This is said, since the link between brother and sister, has sexual desire; also between the two sexes, in this relationship …show more content…
The play was written to describe the unfairness and lack of equality present in 400 B.C. for women. This is evident since Antigone only performs righteous and morally correct actions, but since these go against the desire of men, she is reprimanded. The play also presents another feminine figure, Ismene, who is submissive, and is present to point out what men looked for in a woman at the time. On the other hand, Antigone is hated and criticized, simply for standing up for herself. Antigone is even presented as a heroic figure by Sophocles, first by her actions to honor her brother, but also by the way in which she embraces her fate. Antigone, towards the end of the tragedy, is imprisoned, and in here she takes her life. At this point, Creon finally realizes that his actions were mistaken, and he is finally willing to mend it, but it is too late. Sophocles, towards the end, is communicating how Antigone’s actions and arguments were right, but simply due to her gender, were neglected. Sophocles meant to communicate, by the character of Antigone, a right set of morals, and uses feminism to convey the