Antigone is a caring, strong minded person who sticks up for her
Just as in King’s time where African-Americans struggle with gaining any say or power just because of the color of their skin, Antigone and other women in their own time battle social customs that assume women are the weaker gender compared to men. These men hold all the political offices, and therefore create the laws. Despite being a member of a royal family, Antigone has no real power over
Her scrawny and less desirable features make her an outcast compare to her sister. Who is the epitome of grace and desire in this time and age. Because of this Antigone knew it was her duty to bring justice to an unjust law. Being an outcast to society gave her the courage and strength to do what her sister Ismene could never do. She challenged the law.
In ancient times, all over the world, woman were considered inferior to men. Woman in ancient Greece, as well as in other religions, did not have any political rights, official power, and were not educated. Becasue of this, Antigone’s gender is a problem from Creon since he does not recognize her
Antigone represents a courageous woman that risked and lost her life defending her rights. She disobeyed ruler Creon’s decree that forbade anyone from burying her brother. She rejected this law because she felt that it was unjust and robbed her from her freedom. Referring to Creon she said: “He has no right to keep me from my own” (Sophocles. Antigone).
Antigone had the right to challenge the government. Because as every human being we all have a different points of view. In the past, women were less valued. There were two different plays written by Sophocles in the Ancient Greece, “Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone”. In fact, “Oedipus Rex” is considered his greatest work.
Antigone is seen as a feminist for her actions against Creon but her actions are a bit extreme. While referring to Antigone, Creon thinks her hate for the anarchy is ruining the good name of the City he is trying to restore. “What evils are not wrought by Anarchy! She ruins States, and overthrows the home, She dissipates and routs the embattled host; While discipline preserves the ordered ranks.” Antigones suicide is her regaining control, they go back and forth between each other even to her death.
In Greek society, women had few rights and hardly moved from their place next to men. Antigone defies all stereotypes and traditional images of women in Greek society. Creon feels she is a menace to him and eventually sentences her to death for treason.
She dares to challenge the arrogant tyrant Creon by expressing her points bravely and furiously, trying to warn him that women do not always have the obligation to do what men command; she dares to protest the balance between duty and law, “…for it was not Zeus made such a law; such is not the Justice of the gods.” (Antigone), making her decisions in an equitable way and promise to find the real justice so as to give respect to her brother, Polyneices’ burial. Even though in the end Creon tries to give Antigone a lesson by putting her to prison, Antigone did not escape, for she understood that her action and pride would bring about these consequences, and she did not regret for doing this. In addition, we can also observe women power by seeing Creon’s words and behaviors. Creon’s hubris as a men affects how he thinks about women, he considered women as secondary creature.
Additionally, he states, “As long as I live, I will not be ruled by a woman” (pg. 22). As a man, he feels threatened by a woman who has the courage to disobey him. Even though he holds great power, Antigone is not afraid to challenge and stand up to him. After getting caught, she says, “No man could frighten me into taking on / The gods’ penalty for breaking such a law” (pg. 19). By standing up for herself in a male-dominated society, Antigone exemplifies a strong women not afraid to challenge the status
Antigone and Penelope demonstrate levels of strength which challenge and uphold the social norms of feminine roles during their time period. Antigone is considered to be a heroine because she stands up for what she believes is just and morally right. She allows her heart to
But Antigone did so anyways knowing the consequences were going to be brutal. This is significant because the sacrificial death of Antigone, who challenged a male counterpart is basically inevitable. This play challenged the beliefs of women during that day and age, giving them the power to criticize and proceed against an opposing male force. Without the sacrificial death, Antigone would only consist of the overpowering actions of King Creon. Her decisions and actions on challenging him was one of the main themes of the play.
Him putting Antigone to death because she went against his power clearly shows his feminism towards women. This also shows that all males had full power over society, economy, and women, which isn’t fair. Antigone displays her feminist qualities when she goes against the most powerful male, the king Creon. Her going against him shows her disrespect for Creon, her doing this and speaking like a male figure shows her push for equality between the sexes. Antigone throughout the whole play pushed for equality but she never seemed to get what she wants.
Gender roles play a significant part through ought the play Antigone due to the fact that men are treated on a higher scale than women. Sophocles portrays women as people with no rights nor freedom. Antigone is on a destiny for burial rights of her brother Polyneicis. Gender roles are expressed throughout the play Antigone by disrespecting women and men having power and freedom.
Sophocles play “Antigone” introduces a lot of debatable topics such as Human law vs Divine laws, pride, but most importantly the topic of woman’s movement for empowerment. Long before 442 B.C.E, women were belittled because of their gender however, after the birth of “Antigone” it demonstrated a strong outreach towards women and their roles in society ”Antigone, a woman who defines King Creon’s edict without any fear, doubts, or regrets. This courageous woman, the fruit of incest, has fascinated philosophers in the nineteenth century, inspired playwrights in the twentieth century, and intrigued feminist thinkers and activists for decades” (Söderbäck). Birth from a respected bloodline, Antigone doesn’t feel respected at all within her town, especially from her uncle Creon who became entitled as the King after Antigone’s blood
