Melissa Dibene Westbrook
Professor Davis
English 102
2 April 2018 Binary Oppositions Oedipus the King and Antigone are two of Sophocles surviving plays about the Theban saga. Estimated to be written in 441 BC and 430 BC. Oedipus the King and Antigone were not written in chronological order of events within the stories; Antigone is actually the last play. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus has fathered four children with his wife who is also his mother. Oedipus has killed his father just as it was prophesized. Oedipus is banished from the city and Creon is now the ruler. In the beginning of Antigone, it is relayed that Antigone, along with her sister Ismene, are the sole surviving children of Oedipus. Their brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, …show more content…
Antigone, one of the surviving daughters of Oedipus, is a rebellious woman. Antigone does not fit the mold of what a woman should be in those days: “Women are expected to be domestic creatures, submissive, peaceful and instruments rather than the initiators of action” (Barlow 160). Antigone is not submissive; she challenges authority. She is not an instrument, she speaks her mind, and is a woman of action. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, Ismene reminds her, “Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men” (74-75). Antigone has no remorse for defying the roles of women. Antigone’s brothers died in a battle against each other and only one is given a burial. Eteocles has been given full military honors (28). “Polynices, who died miserably is left unwept, unburied, a lovely treasure for birds that scan the field and feast to their heart’s content” (31-35). One brother is buried while the other is left unburied and not honored. Antigone is not happy with this and vows to give her brother Polynices a burial. Her defiance is not what a woman is expected to do. Just as the Athenian woman, Antigone has no independent existence (Blundell 114). Antigone is not of value to Creon; he describes her as, “a worthless woman for his son” (644). Antigone is just a symbol of what her husband is; she is not seen as an individual but as a possession of a
Professor Davis
English 102
2 April 2018 Binary Oppositions Oedipus the King and Antigone are two of Sophocles surviving plays about the Theban saga. Estimated to be written in 441 BC and 430 BC. Oedipus the King and Antigone were not written in chronological order of events within the stories; Antigone is actually the last play. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus has fathered four children with his wife who is also his mother. Oedipus has killed his father just as it was prophesized. Oedipus is banished from the city and Creon is now the ruler. In the beginning of Antigone, it is relayed that Antigone, along with her sister Ismene, are the sole surviving children of Oedipus. Their brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, …show more content…
Antigone, one of the surviving daughters of Oedipus, is a rebellious woman. Antigone does not fit the mold of what a woman should be in those days: “Women are expected to be domestic creatures, submissive, peaceful and instruments rather than the initiators of action” (Barlow 160). Antigone is not submissive; she challenges authority. She is not an instrument, she speaks her mind, and is a woman of action. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, Ismene reminds her, “Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men” (74-75). Antigone has no remorse for defying the roles of women. Antigone’s brothers died in a battle against each other and only one is given a burial. Eteocles has been given full military honors (28). “Polynices, who died miserably is left unwept, unburied, a lovely treasure for birds that scan the field and feast to their heart’s content” (31-35). One brother is buried while the other is left unburied and not honored. Antigone is not happy with this and vows to give her brother Polynices a burial. Her defiance is not what a woman is expected to do. Just as the Athenian woman, Antigone has no independent existence (Blundell 114). Antigone is not of value to Creon; he describes her as, “a worthless woman for his son” (644). Antigone is just a symbol of what her husband is; she is not seen as an individual but as a possession of a