In the tragic play Antigone, there are many minor characters who have a critical effect on the unfolding of the story. The actions and sacrifices of these characters have, in my opinion, proven to be vital to the progression of the tragedy.
The first of the minor characters with a significant role is Haemon, son of Creon. Haemon used his role mainly to interrupt Creon in order to prevent anything to be done about the punishment for the burial of Polynices. When Haemon’s attempts to distract Creon do not work, and Creon continues to act toward the death of Antigone, Haemon says: “Then she’ll die… but her death will kill another” (Line 843). Haemon may have said this in order to bring another conflict to Creon. Would Creon still punish Antigone
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As a result, she hangs herself and Haemon takes his own life after witnessing her death. Prior to the death of Haemon and Antigone, Creon realizes the morality of what he has done and attempts to rescue Antigone from the vault, but it is too late.
A second minor character whose actions have a critical effect on the story is Ismene, the only sister of Antigone and a daughter of Oedipus. Ismene’s role in the tragedy is somewhat similar to Haemon’s role, in that she sacrifices herself to hold back the disaster of Antigone’s punishment. Unlike Haemon, Ismene focuses on Antigone’s side of the conflict instead of Creon’s side, which is focused on by Haemon.
Ismene attempts to distract Antigone in order to stop her sister from burying Polynices and facing the punishment of death. Ismene’s methods of distraction are somewhat different to the methods of Haemon, however. Rather than using her life as a way to bargain, Ismene shows reason and tries not to use aggression in her persuasion. When Ismene hears of Antigone’s plan to bury Polynices, she tries to lower Antigone’s ambitions by saying “Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men.” When she mentions this, Ismene portrays herself as an “ideal woman,” whereas Antigone is more of a masculine character because of her willingness to fight for her