In Sophocles’ play Antigone, the majority of the conflict surrounds Antigone and her uncle, Creon. However, Antigone’s sister Ismene also is a character of interest throughout the play. The conflict that arises from Creon banning the proper burial of Polynices, Ismene and Antigone’s brother, presents a unique situation. According to the Greeks, without a proper burial one’s soul cannot move on to the afterlife. So, it was extremely important that a proper burial take place. THESIS As they are sisters, Ismene and Antigone share similar traits, but in other ways the sisters are strikingly different. While Antigone is defiant, free spirited, and edgy, Ismene is acquiescent, pliant, and soft. Antigone is liberated and extremely strong willed, while Ismene is content to recognize that “we are women,
[who] are not born to contend with men” (Sophocles 74-75).
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However, with Creon’s law that their brother, Polynices, not be given funeral rites and his promise to kill anyone who disobeys, both Ismene and Antigone must decide if their ultimate loyalty lies with the family or the state. For Ismene, the law of the state takes precedence over her commitment to her family. Since Creon is the new king, he is the physical manifestation of the law and thus the right thing to do is to obey the decree set forth by Creon, even though it asks Ismene and Antigone to disrespect their brother. Antigone choses to defy Creon’s law, and thereby sentences herself to death. On the other hand, Ismene believes