Ismene

Literary merit is a term which describes a text or piece of writing that contains quality and value. This term is often used to refer to writings that relate to a certain event or aspect of the world. An example of literary merit are Hamlet by Shakespeare and Antigone by Sophocles. Both Hamlet and Antigone contain literary merit due to the several literary elements and values that make them classic and praisable. Although both pieces of work have their differences such as the moral lesson and…

Antigone’s Courageous Character Most works of literature raise many questions in the mind of the reader. As one continues to engage in a story, they might wonder about the choices of certain characters. In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, the heroine, Antigone, faces various challenges within the depths of her twisted family. Some may question Antigone’s purpose in the play, whether it may be to portray a theme or character. The conflicts of her relationships cause her to make rash, yet reasonable,…

“Antigone: Will you lift up his body with these bare hands/and lower it with me? Ismene: What? You’d bury him -- / when a law forbids the city? Antigone: Yes!/ He is my brother and -- deny it as you will -- your brother too. / No one will ever convict me for a traitor” (Sophocles pg. 61, lines 52-56). This quote shows that there is a…

the answer lies between both sides. Oedipus realizes that Apollo had decided his fate long before he could make any choice but Oedipus also realizes and sheds light to the audience that the challenges and struggles Oedipus made Jocasta, Anitgone, Ismene, Creon, Laius, and even himself go through were ultimately his fault. Yes, Oedipus was doomed to sleep with his own…

Overwhelmed by pride, people can stubbornly refuse to back down, even when it would prove beneficial. This concept can be seen in the very first scene. Antigone, so that her values in the gods are right, that she tells Ismene to back off and to “leave [her to her] foolish plan, not [being] afraid of the danger” (Scene 1 II. 79-80). She is well aware of the risks, yet still refuses to surrender to Creon when questions. She is so proud of her actions that she claims to even…

Mark Twain once quoted, “Just because you’re taught that something is right and everyone believes it’s right, it don’t make it right.” This excerpt exemplifies the authentic idea society can occasionally be wrong in ways so as to affect the innocent. Many never fully acknowledge the sincere people who have gone through a tough time while society scoffs that these people are not genuine. Intermittently, structure remains needed for a society to thrive. Without it, people would do anything they…

Antigone’s actions seem like a revolution, they are not because Antigone is only one person that trying to change the government without any intendment. Not only does Antigone not have a group supporting her, but her own family, including her sister Ismene does not support her decisions. On the contrary, the French Revolution was a massive movement that spurred many people to take…

All tragic heroes have Hamartia, a tragic flaw the character has that leads to a downfall in the play. Creon takes on a heavy onus when he becomes the King of Thebes. After Creon locks Antigone, along with Ismene away for burying their brother, Haemon goes to his narcissistic father in the hope that he can prevent his fiancee from being killed. The solemn Haemon tries to make it clear to Creon that being king does not mean he knows everything and how people…

The Festival of Dionysus was an ancient festival held in Athens, Greece in which three poets wrote three tragedies and one satyr play that were to be judged in a competition (“Great Dionysia”). All the plays by one poet were witnessed in one day, so the competition was held over a span of three days (Gaines and Westersund). The festival was held in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry (“Great Dionysia”). 2. What is the role of the chorus? The chorus was a group that generally…

Time and Scene: A Southern plantation house, at night. It is the spring of 1864, one year before the Confederate Army’s surrender at Appomattox. Brothers Earl and Paul, fighting on opposite sides of the war, have both died in a recent battle. Union General Creon has requisitioned the plantation as his command post and has declared martial law. A bugle sounds in the distance as two Union soldiers enter from the right side of the scene. The soldiers remove a Confederate banner that hangs from…