Summary Of Antigone By Frances Singh

Sophocles’ play Antigone is framed around a young woman named Antigone and her response to hearing that the king of her city (Creon) refuses to bury her brother Polynices due to his traitorous acts. Antigone embodies fearless familial loyalty and chooses to illegally attempt to give her brother a burial, but she faces repercussions for her criminal actions. In Frances Singh’s article “Antigone’s Changed Punishment: Gynaecology as Penology in Sophocles’ Antigone,” Singh highlights the importance of gender in relation to the punishment Creon selects to fit Antigone’s crime. Singh argues that the more severe crime is not simply defying Creon, but defying the ancient Greek societal expectations of appropriate female behavior. When I initially read

However, Singh suggests that Creon regaining control of Antigone is not the only reason behind her entombment. Singh also draws connections between the ancient Greek’s understanding of female anatomy and the cave in which Antigone is trapped, saying the cave is structured “uncannily like a cervix and uterus” and that Antigone “is sealed up so as to experience good womanism” (Singh 12-13). In a final powerful quote, Singh asserts that “Creon not only punishes her for not acting like a woman, but makes sure that she dies because she is one” (Singh 14). This statement both boldly and concisely summarizes the article and leaves no doubt that Creon’s alteration in Antigone’s punishment was motivated primarily by her gender. I found Singh’s overall argument very interesting and well supported by Antigone. I was especially fascinated by Singh’s description of symbolic punishment through mirroring, and how this ties into the ancient Greek’s rudimentary understanding of female

Later on, Creon says, “If we must lose, let’s lose to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we?” (Sophocles 539-540). This quote once again points to the societal perception of women as inferior and weaker. After reading Singh’s article, it is clear that Antigone’s refusal to bow down and accept her place as inferior is a motivating factor in her punishment. Furthermore, while I appreciate Antigone as a strong, independent female character, Singh’s article leads me to believe that the play’s original audience could have perceived Antigone in a much more negative way. In ancient Greek society, Antigone would not have been seen as bold and empowered, but disrespectful and possibly even mentally ill. In fact, in response to Antigone’s initial declaration that she is going to bury her brother, her sister Ismene declares, “Antigone, you are mad!” (Sophocles line 28). While Antigone is the primary character, the supporting characters help paint her as rash and impulsive, and it is obvious that Antigone’s choice to honor her brother is not the only issue they take with Antigone’s