ipl-logo

Two Sisters In Antigone

546 Words3 Pages

Two Sisters, Two Views
Ismene from Antigone once said, “That two sisters lost two brothers, a double death”. In the play written by Sophocles, there are two brothers, one honored and one dishonored. Although not specifically stated at first, their sisters, Ismene and Antigone, are now deciding on a tough decision. This decision is whether or not to bury the dishonored brother, which is where the two sisters part views. Antigone and Ismene both feel the need to honor their brother with burial, but disagree on whether or not to disobey man’s law. There is clearly a difference between the two sisters Ismene and Antigone. The more timid sister, Ismene, is afraid of what might happen if they disobey Creon’s, the king’s, decree. Antigone, on the other hand, doesn’t care what Creon has to say about the burial and is willing to go through with it to honor both brothers equally. When Polyneices and Eteocles had gone to battle against each other, they both died “In a single hour (p.8-9).” Ismene reveals her cowardice when she says, “The law is strong, we …show more content…

Antigone in the prologue is talking with Ismene about the battle between Polyneices and Eteocles, which definitely stirs up emotions between the two. Ismene says at one point “They mean a great deal to me, but I have no strength To break laws that were made for the public good. (p.60-61)” Ismene wants to bury him, but she fears for her life and doesn’t want to gamble her life to do it. Antigone feels that she should bury her brother and is very willing to do it, as seen when she says “ I am going to bury him...He is my brother. (p.30-33)” The willingness and bravery of Antigone to do what she feels is right in this situation brings out her overall character traits, her stubbornness and passion. The love for their brothers are very great, but Antigone is more willing to act on her personal opinions than

Show More
Related
1065 Words | 5 Pages

After her brother’s death, Antigone wanted to bury his body since no matter what her brother had done, he was still her brother. However, if she did bury him, it would be breaking the law King Creon had set up. Ismene kept telling and trying to persuade Antigone not to bury him but Antigone calmly tells her, “I will bury the brother I love. (Prologue, 69)” Even though Ismene told Antigone about the consequences of her planned action, Antigone was completely fine with

Read More
883 Words | 4 Pages

"There is nothing shameful in burying my brother (Plato,72). Antigone's morals are still unable to see her tragic flaw. With Antigone’s death it is viewed by her insolence toward Creon, but by her failure to reason with her emotional values. Antigone impels Creon by defying his order which causes the fate of her life. Instead of obeying to Creon’s verdict this overcomes her

Read More
1104 Words | 5 Pages

We are only women, We cannot fight with men Antigone!” (Prologue Lines 45-47). While Ismene would gladly obey the laws set forth by her Uncle, Antigone would rather die than let her brother’s body be desecrated. She refused to give up no matter the obstacle in her way. At the end of her crusade, Antigone is condemned to be buried alive in a tomb by Creon.

Read More
478 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
686 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
406 Words | 2 Pages

In the scene in which Creon will not allow her brother to be buried. This goes against her personal beliefs she confronts Creon when she says “if I had allowed my own mothers son to rot, an unburied corpse that would have been an agony.” Creon wouldn’t allow Antigone brother to be buried even tho Antigone felt it was the right thing to do. Antigone is talking to Ismene about burying her brother but Ismene tells her to keep the idea a secret but Antigone disagrees and says “But I know I’ll please the ones I’m duty bound to please.

Read More
957 Words | 4 Pages

As you mention in your post, Antigone supported her actions of properly burying her brother by referring to how Creon's decree was the law of man, not the law of the gods. It is through the law of the gods that Antigone states that all those who die deserve a proper burial, because in death there are no more grudges and hatred. Thus, when Creon called Antigone's actions as insulting to her dead, heroic brother Eteocles, Antigone summarized that Eteocles would not care as he has left the material world. Another point that you addressed in your post about Antigone that I found intriguing was how you also mentioned that while the laws of man can change, the laws of the gods will be eternal. This point clearly reflects the difference in values between men and gods, and it also portrays a sort-of universal concept to society about the proper burial of all deceased regardless of their actions.

Read More
765 Words | 4 Pages

In the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, burial customs of the ancient Greeks play an extensive role. The women of the family perform the burial rites, and believed that if their distinct methods were not followed, the soul is destined to suffer between worlds until the correct rites were performed. Antigone, the sister of Polynices and Eteocles, is aware of this and is not going to stand by and let her brother, Polynices, linger between worlds in pain, after being killed by Eteocles. With her ambition and determination she does the deed, and of doing so she follows the god's laws, but breaks Creon’s laws in the midst of it. Creon is also aware of the burial rites but still decides, through his stubbornness, that Polynices shall not be performed these rites, because of his actions against Thebes.

Read More
710 Words | 3 Pages

This stands true for Antigone and her sister Ismene. While Antigone is fiercely loyal to her brother and willing to risk her life to give him his burial, Ismene is too intimidated by society to participate in the burial. She believes that Antigone is wrong to challenge Creon’s law. “I needs must do, but yield obedience to them that walk in power; to exceed is madness, and not wisdom.” (Sophocles, page 4) After Antigone is caught and she realizes that she will have no family left after she is executed, Ismene starts to sing a different tune.

Read More
552 Words | 3 Pages

In the play "Antigone" by Sophocles, Antigone rightfully decides to bury her brother, Polynices, but when the king, Creon, finds out, she does not repent for her actions. She is a woman that stands for what she thinks is right, which in this case is that Creon is wrong for condemning the burial of her brother. She shows braveness with her actions because not all people have the courage to risk their own lives so that their brother can rest in peace. For instance, Ismene states "What? You 'd bury him – when a law forbids the city?"

Read More
1353 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More
1343 Words | 6 Pages

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

Read More
759 Words | 4 Pages

In Antigone, there was two brothers who shared being the King and one of the brothers, Polynices, wanted to start a war with the kingdom because he wanted to be the main ruler. Polynices and his brother Eteocles fight and they both end up killing each other. Their Uncle Creon, who takes position as King when they are both killed, decides that only Eteocles will have a proper burial and Polynices will be left to rot. Antigone, Polynices and Eteocles sister, thinks that Creon’s decision is unfair and takes upon herself to give Polynices a proper burial. When their other sister Ismene finds out, she is stuck between helping her sister bury their brother and following Creon’s demands.

Read More
932 Words | 4 Pages

Antigone uses both logical and emotional appeals to persuade her sister Ismene that their brother Polyneices should be honored and have a proper burial. During an argument between Antigone and Ismene, Ismene believes that the law should be obeyed therefore she will not help Antigone. Antigone states, “Polyneices, who fought as bravely and died as miserably…no one shall bury him, no one mourn for him… his body must lie in the fields (Sophocles et al.190).” Antigone is trying to communicate to Ismene through the use of an emotional and logical appeal by explaining that he was, left to be decomposed by the birds. In the Greek culture, having a burial is a civic and religious duty which is necessary to proceed to the afterlife unaffected.

Read More
1113 Words | 5 Pages

She was outraged when she found out that her brother Polyneices was going to be left to rot and be eaten by animals, because he was a traitor to the city. Antigone believed that her brother deserved a proper burial even though he tried going against the city unlike her other brother Eteocles. She asks Ismene (her sister) to join her in this act of rebellion but Ismene does not want to get in trouble for going against her kings orders so Antigone does it on her own. Creon feels disrespected and punishes Antigone for not following his rules. He seals Antigone while she is alive, inside a tomb.

Read More

More about Two Sisters In Antigone

Related Topics

Open Document