How important are the characters other than Antigone and Creon in Sophocles' Antigone?
Characters other than Antigone and Creon could be considered as minor due to their limited time on stage, throughout the play. However, their significance cannot be underestimated. Throughout Sophocles’ Antigone characters other than Antigone and Creon hold a vital role as they help to emphasise Antigone’s and Creon’s personalities and alike irrational minds. They are an essential part of the play as they contribute to and influence Antigone’s and Creon’s decisions. Some characters even help highlight the customs of the ancient world. For this reason and many more characters other than Antigone and Creon have a crucial role as they affect the plot largely.
A character that is essential to the play is Ismene, the sister of Antigone. As she might appear only twice through the play she has a major role. Ismene’s character contrasts with Antigone this exaggerates Antigone’s rebellious character. Ismene is portrayed as more fearful this is shown from the stage directions in the prologue as Ismene ‘follows’ Antigone cautiously.
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She gives the audience a glimpse into women’s life in a patriarchal society. When Antigone insinuated the idea of burying Polynices, Ismene firstly does not understand Antigone. This is indicated in the phrase, "What work, What's the risk? What do you mean?". She is clueless since people in the ancient world never go against the law and especially women are supposed to be obedient and are less significant. Men ruled the state and had authority over women. Ismene follows the same views the phrase "Remember we are women, we're not born to content with men" states this. She is in utter shock when Antigone suggests disobeying the law. Ismene's confusion highlights Antigones rebellious