Power Of Words In Antigone

A great author once wrote, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude” (Maya Angelou). These wise words are the backbone to the play Antigone by Sophocles. In this play, the audience is maneuvered through this tragic flaw between human and divine law. Many characters in the play are dissatisfied with the circumstances of their lives and because of that, they want to change the conditions in which they find themselves and when faced with a tragic event, the character’s attitude changes. One character, Ismene, the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, has grown up into a world of hate and power and this impacted her view of life. Sophocles enhances on the character of Ismene by showing

Her parents faced horrible deaths and now her brothers died while fighting each other for power. These deaths have put her in a position to play it safe and listen to those in power. Ismene’s words and actions make it clear to the audience that she loves her sister dearly and is not willing to lose her life or her sister’s life. Antigone believes that Creon’s law forbidding anyone to give her brother a burial, is unjust and not what the Gods want. So if Creon will not give her brother a burial, then she will do it herself and she does not care about the consequences. Unlike Antigone, Ismene fears going against Creon’s wishes. Ismene understands her identity as a women and because Ismene and Antigone are ladies, they are “...not born to contend with men”(line 75). This piece of who Ismene is forces her to listen to those in power. Ismene understands what Creon can do if he found out that someone went against his wishes. Creon behaves like a tyrant and when someone tries to can over rule him, he feels threatened and because of that, he does things to remind the people of Thebes who he is and what power he

However, Ismene is now stuck between obeying the one with authority or losing her sister. From Ismene’s words and actions, the audience can see that Ismene cares deeply for her sister but is unhappily trapped. Ismene wants to work this out instead of jumping to conclusions, she has experienced many tragic losses and does not want to lose the one person she has left. When Creon accuses Ismene of having an equal part in the burial, Ismene takes her sister’s side. Antigone questions why Ismene wants to share the guilt and Ismene replies, “But now you face such dangers... I’m not ashamed to sail through trouble with you, make your troubles mine” (609-611). She isn’t stuck anymore and doesn’t fear what could happen to her because of the great love that she has for her sister. Ismene completely changes mentally because she sees that her sister is in danger and will go down fighting with her. She isn’t afraid to speak out to Creon and question him, question his thoughts for really wanting to take Antigone away from his own son. From the beginning of the play, Ismene wanted peace and wasn’t able to make the same bold move as Antigone but now she is willing to die with her