Antigone: the Role of Women

The playwright Sophocles produced “Antigone”, one of the Theban cycle of myths about 441 BCE. The play conveys Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus to be very much like her father, compelled and self-driven by certainty. Antigone knows that she is on her own. She takes a hidden path, rebelling against Creon’s outrageous demands in order to give her brother Polyneices a deserved burial. The purpose of the play is to grasp the concept of each character’s perception of the law and values that they hold in an unjust society. Although Sophocles portrayed women in a male dominated world with little room for opinion and independence, Creon, Haemon and the Chorus related to the female characters by way of ego. Unlike her counterparts Ismene and Eurydice, Antigone did not represent the traditional women and fought with every last breath to get what she felt was right.

Throughout the course of the play, Sophocles’ displayed women to be looked down upon, as their opinions were not valid to men. It wasn’t uncommon when women like Ismene, did not stand up for themselves. She refused to help Antigone bury their brother Polyneices. This shows her disregard to family obligations. Ismene’s character is an illustration of how men perceive women to be, spineless and inferior. Ismene states; “see how miserable our end shall be if in the teeth of law we shall transgress against the sovereign’s decree and power” (Sophocles 67-69). Her cowardly demeanor proves that she will not disobey Creon, if it means putting herself in a feeble position. This is noted when Antigone exclaims, “Ask Creon; all your care was on his behalf” (603). Eurydice demonstrates common characteristics of being a traditional woman. She is very submissive in regards to Creon’s actions and beliefs. Evidently, Antigone proves otherwise as she stands up to Creon knowing that his edict is morally wrong; “the god of death demands these rites for both” (570). Antigone’s character signifies courage and tenacity. She does not...