ipl-logo

Theme Of Foil In Antigone

880 Words4 Pages

In the Greek tragic drama, Antigone, by Sophocles Ismene is a foil of her sister. There are many characteristics that exhibit this, such as, Ismene’s lack of courage, how she chooses to follow civil laws over the laws of the gods, and finally, how Ismene cannot stand up for herself. There are many instances in the play where these traits are are exhibited. One way that Ismene is a foil of Antigone is because she lacks courage. This flaw of Ismene is shown at many points in the play, but perhaps the instance where this trait is the most prevalent is when she refuses to help Antigone bury their slain brother. This happens at the very beginning of the story right after Eteocles has been given a proper obsequey, and Polynices will be left unburied. Antigone begs, “Will you help me? Will you do something with me? Will you? Would you help me lift the body . . . you and me?” (pg. 507). In response to this Ismene says, “You cannot mean . . . to bury him? Against the order? May the dead forgive me, I can do no other, but as I am commanded; to do more is madness” (pg. 507-508). Ismene is afraid to help her sister give their brother the funeral that he deserves because she is not brave enough, and rightly so. The consequences of doing this are …show more content…

Someone who I believe is my foil, is my younger brother Sam. There are many things that support this, but the most significant difference is while Sam likes to have everything go just his way, I prefer to sit back and make sure that everyone is happy. Sam is more of a “my way or the highway guy”, while I just go with the flow. This shows you aren’t always going to agree with everything that someone believes in, or do the same things that they do, or follow the same rules as they do, even if you are related to them. Everybody has their own ideas on how they think their world should be, and how the people living in them should

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Foil In Antigone

    929 Words  | 4 Pages

    The utilization of a foil in a novel or play is a very substantial tool for writers. A foil serves as a reflection of a character’s actions. It is useful in developing character traits and discovering traits for that character in an interesting and plot advancing way. Characters like Haemon acts as this foil to bring out Creon’s particular qualities. Tensions, including the contrasts of law and justice and the conflict of loyalty within families are present themes in Antigone, written by Sophocles, that express many great examples of foils.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Antigone And Letter From Birmingham Jail

    1065 Words  | 5 Pages

    After her brother’s death, Antigone wanted to bury his body since no matter what her brother had done, he was still her brother. However, if she did bury him, it would be breaking the law King Creon had set up. Ismene kept telling and trying to persuade Antigone not to bury him but Antigone calmly tells her, “I will bury the brother I love. (Prologue, 69)” Even though Ismene told Antigone about the consequences of her planned action, Antigone was completely fine with

    Read More

  • Antigone Character Of Creon

    552 Words  | 3 Pages

    (pg. 3, lines 54-55) This implies that Ismene also thinks that Antigone is crazy for going against her own city, zbut Antigone shows that she is not afraid of danger even if it is death. She does not fear the impossible

    Read More

  • Antigone Persuasive Speech

    1343 Words  | 6 Pages

    Have you ever wanted to make a situation right for someone else, so much that you would do anything to fix it for them? When a person cares a lot for someone they love, a family member for example, they often times would sacrifice anything for them to be happy again. In Antigone by Sophocles, the main character Antigone gets sentenced to death by the King Creon after disobeying him for giving her brother Polyneices, a proper burial that she believed he deserved. Creon thought he should be left out in the sun for his body to rot, to make up for his act of treason. Antigone made a sacrifice for her brother that she also tried to convince her sister Ismene to join in on.

    Read More

  • Ethos, Pathos and Logos in 'Antigone' by Sophocles

    1197 Words  | 5 Pages

    “I shall be hating you soon,” (193). Antigone then transitions into a more emotional form of persuasion, by threatening the relationship between them if she is to not join in on her plan. This targets the guilty conscience of Ismene which is normally what tends to push people to agree with the arguer, although it can be seen as a slightly manipulative tactic. Despite Antigone’s passive aggressive argument with Ismene, she fails to convince her to join the burial and carries out her mission on her own. However, the sentry Creon sent to spy on the grave spots her and brings her to Creon as the guilty

    Read More

  • Antigone Rhetorical Analysis

    932 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the play Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates the conflict between family and God through the characters of Antigone, Ismene and Creon. Antigone being ambitious and strong willed throughout the play, fights for his brothers honor and proper burial while Ismene on the other hand, is more timid fears the consequences that may occur if the laws are broken. For Creon he is the King and holds most power, until the Gods feel he is incapable. Antigone, Ismene and Creon all use logical and emotional appeals to achieve a compromise to either bury Polynices or not.

    Read More

  • Foil Characters In Antigone

    1009 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the most well known and the least read pieces of literature, narratives all have one key idea in common: the good guy and the bad guy. Whether the piece is about superheros, elves, or robots, the idea of these two opposing characters continues, the most common type of foil. A foil is two characters that contrast each other on many regards. The antagonist, or bad guy, often is a foil to the protagonist, or the good guy. In Sophocles’ Antigone, the antagonist, Creon is a foil to the protagonist, Antigone.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Antigone And The Lottery

    1104 Words  | 5 Pages

    She has a heroic and courageous personality. Throughout her quest to bury Polyneices, Antigone encounters many hindrances along the way. The death of her father Oedipus led to her greatest disputant being given power, her Uncle Creon. He would show her no mercy for breaking his laws, until it is too late. Even when her sister Ismene states “Our own death would be if we should go against Creon And do what he has forbidden!

    Read More

  • Antigone Conscience Vs Society

    710 Words  | 3 Pages

    This stands true for Antigone and her sister Ismene. While Antigone is fiercely loyal to her brother and willing to risk her life to give him his burial, Ismene is too intimidated by society to participate in the burial. She believes that Antigone is wrong to challenge Creon’s law. “I needs must do, but yield obedience to them that walk in power; to exceed is madness, and not wisdom.” (Sophocles, page 4) After Antigone is caught and she realizes that she will have no family left after she is executed, Ismene starts to sing a different tune.

    Read More

  • Creon's Idea Of Justice In Antigone

    868 Words  | 4 Pages

    In this particular story I would think that her idea of justice is wrong. In real life, I would say that we should obey the law of the land made by the King or President. But in The Antigone, Ismene's biggest fear is challenging King Creon and the laws of the state which prevents her from her sister's bold plan. Ismene’s states, “Now look at the two of us, left so alone…think what a death we’ll die, the worst of all if we violate the laws and override the fixed decree of the throne, its power – we must be sensible. Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men.

    Read More

  • Women's Role In Antigone Essay

    736 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, her intention to bury their brother against the orders of their uncle, Ismene states that she will “. . . obey the men in charge. My mind / Will never aim too high, too far” (pg. 3). Antigone is a stark contrast to Ismene, who wishes to stay within the bounds of traditional society by staying obedient and submissive to men. Antigone has her own mind however, and is not afraid to make her own decisions.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Antigone

    483 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ismene trembles in feat because her life could also be in danger for being the sister of Antigone. Throughout all the family drama if Antigone dies Ismene will be the only descendant from Oedipus alive. Ismene is worried and says, “Antigone I am so afraid for you” (3) because she knows Antigone will die soon. Ismene tells Antigone to be intelligent about her actions and not eager to respond to situations.

    Read More

  • Internal Conflict In Antigone

    759 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ismene has an internal conflict for not trying to help her sister when first asked, which is the reason for her trying to take some blame in the acts Antigone had done. Antigone and Ismene are both to be put to death but Creon relents on the executing off Ismene. Before Creon did so, Ismene is scorned by Antigone for her late attempt for trying to be righteous. Ismene has always believed in loyalty and has always been loyal to her family. Even though she made a late decision and it is rejected by Antigone she is still loyal to her family by offering her help after she denied it to Antigone the first

    Read More

  • Civil Disobedience In Antigone

    1353 Words  | 6 Pages

    Antigone’s actions are motivated by her allegiance to her family, moral conscience, and religion amid Creon’s political injustice and tyranny. Antigone’s actions motivate her to demand Ismene to prove whether she is “a true sister or a traitor to your family” (26-27). Antigone maintains loyalty to her brother despite his actions which threatened Thebes. Her inability to bear the thought of her brother’s corpse being picked apart by animals and not being honored with proper funeral rites forces her to act. Antigone’s fierce allegiance to her family is laid bare as she is willing to sacrifice her life to honor her brother and defy the law in an act that she believes is morally just.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Power In Antigone

    984 Words  | 4 Pages

    He considered that Polynice did not deserve to be interred and he would punish who tried to do it. Making reference to the play, the first act describes with clarity what each of the two sisters, Antigone and Ismene, understand about power and justice. The discussion that they have is about to bury their brother Polynice or not. The position of Ismene (the oldest sister) is noticeably submissive, and obedient, even if she think the same as her sister, she believe that the correct thing is to do what her uncle is told because is the man, the leader, the king, he is who have the power, and the role of women is just to be married, be quiet and loyal. She argues that because she and Antigone are women, they lack the power to defy the state.

    Read More

More about Theme Of Foil In Antigone

Open Document