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Juxtaposition In Antigone

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Sophocles introduces us to Ismene’s character from the commencement of the play and provides insight into her thinking and beliefs through the use of direct diction and juxtaposition. During the conversation between Antigone and Ismene within the prologue, Antigone, resolute and determined, proposes to her sister that they defy King Creon’s edict and perform Polynices’ burial. It is symbolic that this conversation takes place outside the palace boundaries similar in nature to the matter of discussion being “outside” the boundaries of the positive law. Through the quotation, “I’m forced, I have no choice – I must obey the ones who stand in power” [Ismene, 78] Sophocles conveys that Ismene is fearful of challenging authority and values authoritarian decrees over personal conviction. Being …show more content…

Ismene’s compulsion to adhere to Creon’s command illustrates that she truly had “no choice” and was “forced” partially by her belief that women were “not born to contend with men”. Sophocles’ illustration of the depletion of free will within Ismene’s character is heightened through the deliberate juxtaposition to Antigone during their conversation. Antigone, in her appeal to family tradition and value, believes that Creon “has no right to keep [her] from [her] own”. This presents a strong incongruity to Ismene who attempts to dissuade Antigone from her purpose as she is obliged to “obey the ones who stand in power”. Upon further consideration of Ismene’s quotation, “…I have no choice…” we recognize Sophocles’ motive to establish her character as one that is more likely to plead for mercy than fight for justice. This sparks the topic of fate vs free will and Ismene’s reference to the “poor suffering” of her brothers as “their common destiny” is indicative of her deep-seated belief in the role of

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The burial of Polyneices is viewed nobly, yet Antigone is not faultless in that act. One of Antigone’s largest mistakes is that she burns bridges with those that care about her. Pleading with Antigone, Ismene laments “why would I care to live when you are gone?” (548). Antigone dismisses this heartfelt plea by deferring Ismene to Creon, thus isolating herself from her only kin.

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In this particular story I would think that her idea of justice is wrong. In real life, I would say that we should obey the law of the land made by the King or President. But in The Antigone, Ismene's biggest fear is challenging King Creon and the laws of the state which prevents her from her sister's bold plan. Ismene’s states, “Now look at the two of us, left so alone…think what a death we’ll die, the worst of all if we violate the laws and override the fixed decree of the throne, its power – we must be sensible. Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men.

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In the speech we chose, Ismene is trying to convince Antigone to follow Creon’s order, and to not bury Polynices. She begins her argument by bringing up their tragic family history, about how their father “gouged out his eyes with his own hands” (Line 64), or how their mother died “mutilating her life in the twisted noose” (Line 66). Then, their brothers, “both shedding their own blood, poor suffering boys…” (Line 68). This use of their vividly horrifying history is an example of Pathos.

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When Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, her intention to bury their brother against the orders of their uncle, Ismene states that she will “. . . obey the men in charge. My mind / Will never aim too high, too far” (pg. 3). Antigone is a stark contrast to Ismene, who wishes to stay within the bounds of traditional society by staying obedient and submissive to men. Antigone has her own mind however, and is not afraid to make her own decisions.

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In the Greek Tragedy, Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone defies the law Creon enforced that forbids his people to bury the body of Polyneices. She believed very strongly that Polyneices deserved a proper burial as much as anyone and for his soul to be at peace. Antigone is a story that shows how the main character overstepped the king's law when she attested to burying her brother. These details relate to the common saying or idiom that, “your actions have consequences in the future.”

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In the Greek tragic drama, Antigone, by Sophocles Ismene is a foil of her sister. There are many characteristics that exhibit this, such as, Ismene’s lack of courage, how she chooses to follow civil laws over the laws of the gods, and finally, how Ismene cannot stand up for herself. There are many instances in the play where these traits are are exhibited. One way that Ismene is a foil of Antigone is because she lacks courage.

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Conscience vs. Society Everyone faces difficult choices throughout their life, and many of these choices are due to the pressures of society. Society is cruel and everyone, at some point in their lives, has been at the receiving end of that cruelty and felt the sorrow it brings. In Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone finds herself faced with the choice of doing what her heart says is right, and burying her dead sibling or following what society has decreed as the right thing to do and leave him “to be devoured by dogs and fowls of the air.” (Sophocles, page 12) Antigone’s sister, Ismene, faces the same choice though she is less willing to defy society in favor of family obligations.

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These opposing perspectives in the battle over Polyneices is cause for a rift between Antigone and Ismene. The sisters are unable to see eye to eye and understand the position in which either one stands until it is far too late. Ismene has a break in character at one point, her resistance making an appearance as she beseeches with Antigone to let her join her death. She is rejected, whether it be by Antigone’s spitefulness or love, and ultimately left alone as the play draws closer to the end. As most women in literature, Antigone and Ismene face unsatisfying ends to their storylines.

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Antigone’s actions are motivated by her allegiance to her family, moral conscience, and religion amid Creon’s political injustice and tyranny. Antigone’s actions motivate her to demand Ismene to prove whether she is “a true sister or a traitor to your family” (26-27). Antigone maintains loyalty to her brother despite his actions which threatened Thebes. Her inability to bear the thought of her brother’s corpse being picked apart by animals and not being honored with proper funeral rites forces her to act. Antigone’s fierce allegiance to her family is laid bare as she is willing to sacrifice her life to honor her brother and defy the law in an act that she believes is morally just.

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Creon has officially made the decision that he is not going to bury Polyneices which angers Antigone. Antigone needs help to reach her goal and she says to Ismene, “You may do as you like, since apparently the laws of the Gods mean nothing to you (Sophocles, et al. 192).” Ismene is hesitant to agree with Antigone and join her in this task because she does not want to break the law and go against Creon’s words. Antigone is making Ismene feel

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In the play Antigone by Sophocles, he demonstrates the many ways an unjust leader can overpower those who fight for what is right (Adams 1). In Antigone’s case, she fought for the just treatment of her brother in his afterlife and for giving him a proper burial. In her fight for justice, Antigone exhibits strong beliefs of fairness to her community regarding family, rights and morality in her battle against a seemingly unjust leader, Kreon. Sophocles’, in Antigone, displays the type of justice called fairness. He pulls the laws and unjust teachings of his time and puts them into a play for all to see and analyze.

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Ismene has an internal conflict for not trying to help her sister when first asked, which is the reason for her trying to take some blame in the acts Antigone had done. Antigone and Ismene are both to be put to death but Creon relents on the executing off Ismene. Before Creon did so, Ismene is scorned by Antigone for her late attempt for trying to be righteous. Ismene has always believed in loyalty and has always been loyal to her family. Even though she made a late decision and it is rejected by Antigone she is still loyal to her family by offering her help after she denied it to Antigone the first

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In the play Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates the conflict between family and God through the characters of Antigone, Ismene and Creon. Antigone being ambitious and strong willed throughout the play, fights for his brothers honor and proper burial while Ismene on the other hand, is more timid fears the consequences that may occur if the laws are broken. For Creon he is the King and holds most power, until the Gods feel he is incapable. Antigone, Ismene and Creon all use logical and emotional appeals to achieve a compromise to either bury Polynices or not.

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550 Words | 3 Pages

When Ismene enters while Creon and Antigone are arguing about giving equal rights to the bad and good, Ismene admits to Creon that she much involved in burying Polynices as Antigone. Antigone tells her Ismene that Ismene did not help and that Ismene is not able to die with honor because Ismene did not help. Antigone says, “You chose; life was your choice, when mine was death” (141). Antigone reveals that she knew she could die for what she was doing, but she still executed the plan. She is willing to die for her cause, but it not worth it because she could have honored her brother in a number of different

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He considered that Polynice did not deserve to be interred and he would punish who tried to do it. Making reference to the play, the first act describes with clarity what each of the two sisters, Antigone and Ismene, understand about power and justice. The discussion that they have is about to bury their brother Polynice or not. The position of Ismene (the oldest sister) is noticeably submissive, and obedient, even if she think the same as her sister, she believe that the correct thing is to do what her uncle is told because is the man, the leader, the king, he is who have the power, and the role of women is just to be married, be quiet and loyal. She argues that because she and Antigone are women, they lack the power to defy the state.

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