Feminist Point on the Play Antigone

Thesis

In Antigone, Sophocles portrays woman as strong individuals who are capable of making decisions. Sophocles also portrays women in which they were stereotyped in the ancient times as passive and weak women. He shows these two characteristics through Antigone and Ismene. Through the character of Ismene, Sophocles shows the stereotypical weak woman, and through the character of Antigone, he shows the strong personality that woman have.

Introduction

The goal of the feminist movement has generally been to seek equality between the sexes. Through the women's movement, women have won the right to vote, and have become competition for males in the workplace. Although the feminist movement has largely taken place during the last 200 years, there are figures in history that have embodied characteristics of the feminist of modern day. One example of this is the character of Antigone in Sophocles' Antigone.

Discussion

Antigone first shows her feminist qualities when she chooses to challenge the most powerful male in Thebes, Creon the King. The challenge occurs as both a defiance of Creon's laws in Antigone's burying Polynices, and during at on Creon himself. In lines 500-524, Antigone has her first conversation in the play with Creon. She is very strong in her tone and her opinion. "I've been accused of folly by a fool (Aristophanes 52-78)." This line in particular suggests Antigone's feminist opinion by saying that Creon is a fool. Such opinion shows that Antigone does not show Creon respect for either being a man in a patriarchal society or the king. By speaking with the strength of a man, she is pushing for equality of the sexes.

When Ismene tells Antigone that she will keep quiet about what Antigone will do, she responds, "Dear God, shout it from the rooftops. They compare her to her father, "Like father like daughter, passionate, wild. In her quest for her brother's burial Antigone also seeks support from different areas. In the time of ancient Greece, not receiving a proper burial is considered a great dishonour. Lastly, in lines 963-968, she makes a desperate attempt to make others feel sorry for her in a dramatic speech right before her death. She tells Ismene, "I have longer to please the dead than please the living here" (lines 88-89). "Nor did I think your edict had such force that you, a mere mortal, could override the gods. She also tells Creon that her intentions are divine. In regards to the reason of suicide, she could also desire to leave this world with glory since she is prepared to die. I'll hate you all the more for silence- tells the world!" (Segal 487). He tells the chorus leader after Antigone's interrogation, "Even the bravest will cut and run once they see Death coming for their lives" (Letters 147-8). She also demonstrates feminist mentality in her search for support of her case. First, Antigone could be using her statements about divine justice as justification for suicide. She hasn't learned to bend before adversity.

In Sophocles's Antigone, the ...