Ancient Greece is known for many things; their philosophies, legends and most importantly, theater. Greek theater is one of the major features of Greek culture, as it displayed various aspects of how the Greeks led their lives. Antigone is a tragedy written by the playwright Sophocles, and is the third of his three Theban plays. Each of these plays have common elements and themes which Sophocles displays using his characters. An example of this is shown in the way Sophocles highlights the detrimental effects of gender inequalities found in early Greek culture through the character Ismene, portraying her as a stereotypical female character who believes she is not strong enough to stand up to man, unable to make decisions for herself and how
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In Ismene’s refusal to take part in Antigone’s crime, she cries out, “Think how much more terrible than these our own death would be if we should go against Creon” (Sophocles 44-45) placing her fear of her uncle and his rule above all, before even contemplating what it is she wants to do. Throughout this, Ismene believes she is doing what is right for the good of the people, seeing no point in “break[ing] laws that were made for the public good” (Sophocles 65) In Ismene’s decisions we are shown her belief in how the authority and man’s law is more significant to her than what her heart believes is right. A shift in Ismene’s character occurs when she turns herself in to Creon in an attempt to share the blame with her sister claiming that, “[I] too have a duty that I must discharge to the dead.” (Sophocles 438) In her surrender, she disregards Creon’s choice, but is ultimately following along with what Antigone believes is the right thing, rather than taking a moment to sit and decide what it is she believes in the most. These separate scenes prove how even when given the chance, she never makes the choice for herself, instead continuously valuing Creon and Antigone’s choices above her …show more content…
Ismene’s sacrifice is disregarded by both Creon and Antigone, causing her “major shift” in character to be useless.When she confesses to aiding Antigone in her crime, Antigone reprimands her and tells her to turn away as, “[you] shall not lessen [my] death my sharing it.” (Sophocles 439) Antigone is intent on taking on the blame for the crime on herself, refusing to allow her sister to take even part of the punishment. Creon ridicules both girls, telling the Chorus that “One has just now lost her mind; the other, It seems, has never had a mind at all.” (Sophocles 449-450) He belittles Ismene, claiming she has lost her mind in even believing for a second that her actions would change the course of her fate. In the end, Antigone is still sentenced to death and Ismene is brought to the prison. Though Ismene tried, her actions did little to change the fate of her and her sister, exemplifying how Ismene’s “weakness” of being a woman prevents her from making things
In Ismene’s refusal to take part in Antigone’s crime, she cries out, “Think how much more terrible than these our own death would be if we should go against Creon” (Sophocles 44-45) placing her fear of her uncle and his rule above all, before even contemplating what it is she wants to do. Throughout this, Ismene believes she is doing what is right for the good of the people, seeing no point in “break[ing] laws that were made for the public good” (Sophocles 65) In Ismene’s decisions we are shown her belief in how the authority and man’s law is more significant to her than what her heart believes is right. A shift in Ismene’s character occurs when she turns herself in to Creon in an attempt to share the blame with her sister claiming that, “[I] too have a duty that I must discharge to the dead.” (Sophocles 438) In her surrender, she disregards Creon’s choice, but is ultimately following along with what Antigone believes is the right thing, rather than taking a moment to sit and decide what it is she believes in the most. These separate scenes prove how even when given the chance, she never makes the choice for herself, instead continuously valuing Creon and Antigone’s choices above her …show more content…
Ismene’s sacrifice is disregarded by both Creon and Antigone, causing her “major shift” in character to be useless.When she confesses to aiding Antigone in her crime, Antigone reprimands her and tells her to turn away as, “[you] shall not lessen [my] death my sharing it.” (Sophocles 439) Antigone is intent on taking on the blame for the crime on herself, refusing to allow her sister to take even part of the punishment. Creon ridicules both girls, telling the Chorus that “One has just now lost her mind; the other, It seems, has never had a mind at all.” (Sophocles 449-450) He belittles Ismene, claiming she has lost her mind in even believing for a second that her actions would change the course of her fate. In the end, Antigone is still sentenced to death and Ismene is brought to the prison. Though Ismene tried, her actions did little to change the fate of her and her sister, exemplifying how Ismene’s “weakness” of being a woman prevents her from making things