Examples Of Guilt In Antigone

It can be perceived that Ismene attempts to share responsibility for Antigone’s actions perhaps out of guilt. In the event of Antigone’s death, Ismene will have lost her entire family. In the opening scene, Antigone begs Ismene to help bury Polyneikes, instead Ismene declines saying that it is forbidden by the law of Kreon, king of Thebes. Ismene in lines 78 and 79 says “I am not free. I must obey whoever is in charge” later in this same scene in line 95 and 96, she can be quoted saying “how can I defy this city, I don’t have the strength”. Antigone gives up and tells her she will do it without her, and that if Ismene keeps insulting her she will despise Ismene. As Antigone leaves, Ismene calls after her and calls her a fool but states she is loved by her family still, which at this point is just Ismene and Antigone. (lines 117-120) The next time Ismene is seen is as guards lead her in and we learn she is crying. She tries to take the blame along with Antigone, however, Antigone tells her that she’s foolish, that Antigone’s death is enough, Ismene’s response is “With you dead why would I want to live”. (line 93) It can be assumed that Ismene at this point feels guilty for one of two reasons, either she

In lines 606-609, Kreon makes the statement “one woman only now shows her madness”. Ismene’s response is “King, when you are shattered by grief, your native wit vanishes”. Ismene, as stated before, has now lost her entire family except for her sister, and Ismene is now watching her sister being sentenced to death. This all takes place just a day after losing both brothers, a time-span of this all being within 48 hours. Ismene is obviously grieving and feels she cannot go on, instead of committing suicide, she tries to share the credit of Antigone burying their brother, and knows if she takes some credit she too will be put to death and able to join her family once