If you had to chose between burying your brother or being arrested, what would you do? Ismene, a minor character, values family ties and the laws of the gods over the laws of man, but is not brave enough to stand for her beliefs. Antigone, a powerful headstrong woman, refuses to let the ideal gender-roles of the Greek society hold her down. She rebels against the ideals of society in belief that her brother, Polyneices, should have a proper burial. Therefore, like oil and water do not mix, neither do Ismene and her sister Antigone. Antigone’s true motives are portrayed through the sisters controversy and their dissimilarity in beliefs.
Through their initial conversation, Ismene characterizes Antigone’s egocentrism. Threats of becoming “a traitor to [her] family” Antigone seeks to influence Ismene’s thoughts to match her “strange” feelings by guilting her to be “a true sister” (Sophocles 492). Using threatening words the author establishes the significance of the familial unit. The threat
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Ismene tries to take partial blame for the burial of Polyneices, Antigone refusing “I should not want you” (Sophocles 493). This represents Antigone’s enormous pride for her actions and loyalty to her family. The next encounter between Ismene and Antigone, Ismene's choices show how Antigone wants all the attention for herself. Creon also begins blaming Ismene a “snake” for the crimes Antigone has committed. Ismene shows her caring archetype by admitting “I am guilty… I want to die with you” Antigone quickly becomes enraged, “I will not have you...You shall not lessen my death by sharing it” (Sophocles 504). The argument between the sisters depicts how Ismene’s caring traits reveal Antigone’s true motives to seek all the attention for herself. Ismene, a minor character, serves the role of a foil to Antigone by emphasizing her narcissistic