Gender inequities in Antigone: A closer look at Athenian society
Introduction
Sophocles adroitly rendered the gender conflict between Creon and Antigone in his renowned play Antigone, as the two characters rigidly defend their beliefs on burying Polynices, the traitor of Thebes and Antigone’s brother. His disdain for women emerges in various passages of the play, as Creon learns that Antigone attempted to bury Polynices against his orders and, as his son Haemon opposes his decision to lock Antigone in a tomb for her disobedience. The gender discrimination in Antigone illustrates Athenian society’s view of women as inferior to men, a threat to man’s pride, and sexual object with little significance. Moreover, Sophocles could be suggesting a subliminal message that women are capable of devise logical and rational decisions during times of conflicts.
A woman’s position in the society As a female family member, Antigone considers herself responsible in burying her brother despite Creon’s orders not to bury Polynices as he is a traitor. When Antigone learns of the king’s order, she expresses her loathing in the edict. Antigone exclaims “Such, I hear, is the martial law our good Creon / lays down for you and me,” and she recognizes that Creon’s
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Antigone explains that she broke the king’s order “not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride”, but she feared the retribution of the gods for not performing the burial rites for her brother. However, Creon undeniably takes her actions as a threat to his masculinity as he states “I am not the man, not now; she is the man / if this victory goes to her and she goes free” (p. 83, 541). His perspective is that the person with greater power is always masculine, and he fails to be a man if Antigone wins in the conflict with the king. As Creon accuses Ismene as a supporter of Antigone in burying their brother, Creon flouts death and the gods, as he