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Antigone Gender Roles

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Cultural and contextual aspects had a major role in the development of the play, Antigone. The Greek tragedy was written by Sophocles around 442 BCE, during the Golden age of ancient Greece. The play is set in Thebes during the bronze age, and illustrates the culture of Athens during the Golden Age. Sophocles wrote the play in Athens during the democratic period. Athenian democracy excluded women, which is a crucial aspect of his work. The play Antigone showcases two women with opposing views in ancient Greek society. I have learned from the interactive oral presentations that women in ancient Greece were seen as inferior to men, and were not considered citizens and therefore, Antigone’s behaviour in the play is quite significant because she stood up against authority, whereas, Ismene represents the societal expectations of a woman during this time, as she obeys willingly to men. The passivity of Ismene and other citizens explains …show more content…

10). Alternatively Antigone makes her decision based on what she believes is just. She aspires to gender equality, as she believes “Creon’s rights” (p.9) are equal to her own. Antigone is empowered by the natural laws, and understands the “glory” (p. 11) that will come as she fulfils her duties. Glory represents the good that could come from the defiance of gender roles and the honour in which she will bring to the women of Thebes. Glory can also represent the life without gender barriers between men and women, in which Antigone is attempting to provide. She understands the great difficulties and, also, the reward. Ancient Greek customs on gender roles influence Ismene to not bestow honour upon her family, but rather to allow men to dictate her destiny, because she is fearful of their strength. The conflict between sisters stems from these opposing views on women’s role in

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The famous feminist, Gloria Steinem, once said,”Women are not going to be equal outside the home until men are equal in it.” This central idea of equality is relevant to the story Antigone by Sophocles. Considering the circumstances of the story, the minor character, Ismene, is conflicted with standing by the beliefs that men are overall rulers and powerful over women. Ismene’s emotions and mood fluctuates through the story in a horrible manner. To tragedy unto despair is a major theme in Sophocles most famous tragedy, Antigone.

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What is worth mentioning in Sophocles’ play is that he not only showed the weak side of women but also the strong ones. For example, Ismene is the traditional role of women in ancient Greek—coward, fear of men power and feeble. For Ismene, "we must remember we were born women, not meant to strive with men" (Antigone). She even chose to die with Antigone while hearing her sentence, for she was afraid that she would be alone, she could not be able to fight against Creon, this men-dominant society. In contrast, her sister Antigone presents the “women power”.

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Ismene tells her sister that they are only women and not fit to challenge men (105). Ismene says this to convince her sister not to bury their brother as it not only against the law, but wrong for a woman to challenge the orders of any man, let alone the king. She warns Antigone that acting above one’s place would not be a wise decision (105). Ismene knows that if Antigone is caught burying their brother, her gender will surely affect the harshness of her

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