Ismene, Antigone’s beautiful sister, is the ideal woman of the time 440 B.C. She is the obedient one of the family and understands her place. Ismene, much like everyone else, believes women are not equal to men. And that is how she replies to Antigone’s plan of burying Polynices:

We must remember we are women born,

Unapt to cope with men; and, being ruled

By mightier than ourselves, we have to hear

These things and worse.” (Sophocles 3)

Ismene is not brave enough to join Antigone in honoring their brother. “I am not one to cover things with scorn;” she explains, “but I was born too feeble to contend/ against the state.” (Sophocles 3-4) Ismene fears authority and is unable to persuade her sister to not go through with her risky plan.

Conversely, Antigone does not let being a woman stop her from following her conscience. She tells Ismene, “Well, when I find I have no power to stir,/ I

However, the fact that Antigone is a determined girl against a man negatively affects her fate. No matter how revolutionary and independent Antigone is, the fact that she defies a man means that she has no chance to win. The Chorus explains,

Against the lofty threshold of the laws

Sophocles’ play demonstrates the different roles women play in society. Antigone represents the strong, independent woman while her sister Ismene portrays the typical shy, diffident role. And Creon proves that the proud, sexist male point of view dates back to ancient times. The Chorus recognizes this immature attitude and requests the gods to “teach men wisdom in age, at last.” (Sophocles 52) Sophocles was progressive for distinguishing these roles and centering his dramatic play on a female character filled with so much passion and bravery for what she felt was right.

The Chorus understands that Antigone, being a woman in her family, is destined to fail. And Creon mocks her confidence: “Truly if here/ she wield such powers uncensured, she is man,/ I woman!” (Sophocles 18) He then sentences her to perish in a deep catacomb. But, Antigone ends up hanging herself, which causes her fiancé Haemon, who is

Some topics in this essay:
King Creon’s, Creon Polynices, Ismene Antigone’s, Conversely Antigone, Antigone Sophocles, BC Antigone, Consequently Creon, Haemon Creon’s, Antigone Ismene, Eurydice Creon’s, sophocles 16, 440 bc, sophocles ahead, woman 440, woman 440 bc, thou art, antigone woman,