Theban women must keep to the home. Theban women must listen to the men in their life, obey him no matter what he asks. They must honor the men, the gods, the laws, as is their duty as women. The ideal Theban woman can do all these things and will do them without complaint. Ismene attempts to adhere to these standards to the best of her ability. Antigone believes in these standards, too, but interprets them differently than Ismene. Both sisters had good intentions, but Theban society condemns one for being too loyal. Antigone and Ismene did attempt to adhere to the standards of the ideal Theban woman, but the sisters believed in two different paths to being respectable women.
To begin examining whether Antigone and Ismene fit the stereotype …show more content…
The first example of their mutual adherence is when Antigone meets with her sister privately to discuss her plan of action. Antigone gives mention to their need for privacy to discuss things when she states “I brought you out here, past the gates, so you could hear in private” (line 22-23, page 60). Women must conduct themselves privately and Ismene is strict to hold her conversations with her sister in secret. When Ismene learns of what her sister plans to do, she goes even to swear to hold her sister’s words as a secret and asks her sister do the same when she says “Then don’t, at least, blurt this out to anyone. Keep it a secret. I’ll join you in that, I promise” (line 98-99, page 63). Privacy was something that Ismene could offer her sister and remain in line with the standards of a Theban woman. In their private conversation, both women confess to relying upon men. Antigone relied upon her brother before his death, at least in some way, which is what drives her to pursue her plan, as she says “I will lie with the one I love and loved by him” (line 87, page 63). Ismene acknowledges that she relies upon the living men in her life, such as Creon, by being abhorred by the idea of going against Creon’s command. She states “we’re underlings, ruled by much stronger hands” (line 76, page …show more content…
After the trauma of losing her brother, Antigone desires to give him a burial, which she sees as a familiar and religious obligation. When Ismene confronts her with Creon’s ban on such an action, she argues that “he has no right to keep me from my own” (line 60, page 61). Antigone believes her obligation to the dead and the gods is more pertinent than her duty to Creon and that Creon’s command for her to do anything besides bury her brother is morally reprehensible. To not bury her brother would be “an outrage to the gods” (line 88, page 63) and she believes that should justify her desire. Pleasing the gods is better than pleasing Creon, because she will have to face the gods’ punishment in the afterlife. She views securing peace in the afterlife to be most important because “in the kingdom down below I’ll lie forever” (line 90, page 63). Despite it going against Creon’s command, she believes “No one will ever convict me for a traitor” (line 57, page 61). Antigone believes her actions are righteous and just, the rebellious nature of her actions is simply necessary because of Creon’s tyranny. She is proud of what she is about to do, not ashamed, and believes she will “suffer nothing as great as a death without glory” (line 111-112, page 64) because her actions are honorable. Ismene does not agree with her sister when it comes to who they should honor more, though she believes they should all be
To begin examining whether Antigone and Ismene fit the stereotype …show more content…
The first example of their mutual adherence is when Antigone meets with her sister privately to discuss her plan of action. Antigone gives mention to their need for privacy to discuss things when she states “I brought you out here, past the gates, so you could hear in private” (line 22-23, page 60). Women must conduct themselves privately and Ismene is strict to hold her conversations with her sister in secret. When Ismene learns of what her sister plans to do, she goes even to swear to hold her sister’s words as a secret and asks her sister do the same when she says “Then don’t, at least, blurt this out to anyone. Keep it a secret. I’ll join you in that, I promise” (line 98-99, page 63). Privacy was something that Ismene could offer her sister and remain in line with the standards of a Theban woman. In their private conversation, both women confess to relying upon men. Antigone relied upon her brother before his death, at least in some way, which is what drives her to pursue her plan, as she says “I will lie with the one I love and loved by him” (line 87, page 63). Ismene acknowledges that she relies upon the living men in her life, such as Creon, by being abhorred by the idea of going against Creon’s command. She states “we’re underlings, ruled by much stronger hands” (line 76, page …show more content…
After the trauma of losing her brother, Antigone desires to give him a burial, which she sees as a familiar and religious obligation. When Ismene confronts her with Creon’s ban on such an action, she argues that “he has no right to keep me from my own” (line 60, page 61). Antigone believes her obligation to the dead and the gods is more pertinent than her duty to Creon and that Creon’s command for her to do anything besides bury her brother is morally reprehensible. To not bury her brother would be “an outrage to the gods” (line 88, page 63) and she believes that should justify her desire. Pleasing the gods is better than pleasing Creon, because she will have to face the gods’ punishment in the afterlife. She views securing peace in the afterlife to be most important because “in the kingdom down below I’ll lie forever” (line 90, page 63). Despite it going against Creon’s command, she believes “No one will ever convict me for a traitor” (line 57, page 61). Antigone believes her actions are righteous and just, the rebellious nature of her actions is simply necessary because of Creon’s tyranny. She is proud of what she is about to do, not ashamed, and believes she will “suffer nothing as great as a death without glory” (line 111-112, page 64) because her actions are honorable. Ismene does not agree with her sister when it comes to who they should honor more, though she believes they should all be