The Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines a heroine as "a legendary woman who is admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities." In the play, "Antigone," the main character Antigone goes against all authority in an effort to give her brother, Polynices, a proper burial. It is these courageous actions and her unwavering stoicism which truly make her an ideal heroine throughout the play. According to Katharine Cornell, it was Antigone's uncompromising faith in what she believed that truly guided her, and thus, she is to be admired and loved. Through understanding Antigone's strong sense of womanhood and femininity and her bravery to go against the authority of the king, one can see that Antigone is truly a Heroine. .
Throughout the play, Antigone shows that she is quite different from other women of her time, and expresses her genuine femininity. After she learns that her brother, Polynices, will be left to rot without a proper burial, she becomes infuriated. She immediately goes to her sister, Ismene, to see is she will help her with the burial. Ismene tells Antigone that she does not want to get involved because she is a woman, and women do not undermine the authority of any man. This can be expressed when Ismene exclaims, "We are women/ we are not born to contend with men. Then too, / we"re underlings, ruled by much stronger hands, / so we must submit in this, and things still worse" (ln 74-77). Antigone believes that women do have a voice and that even though they are viewed as inferior by society's standards, they must still do what is right. She yearns to please the "kingdom down below" (ln. 90), rather than please a king whom she has no respect for. As a woman, Antigone feels women are just as powerful as men, and believes that she can have just as great as an impact as any other human. Such opinion shows that Antigone does not give Creon additional respect either because he is a man in a patriarchal society or because he is king.
This type of conflict is shown in Antigone an helps present the character traits of the antagonist, Antigone. ... Antigone was also very strong minded. ... Antigone was also very strong willed. ... Antigone chooses to defy this law. ... Antigone believes that Ismene is a coward while Ismene believes that Antigone is foolish. ...
Antigone stands poised at the river separating herself from civil disobedience. ... Antigone's unrepressed emotions give voice to her dissatisfaction with Creon's dictum. ... Antigone's morals render her unable to see her tragic flaw. ... Antigone impels Creon by defying his order, and seals the fate of her life. ... Antigone's convictions bear a burden on her that she is not strong enough to lift. ...
Later in the act, the Sentry enters again, this time with Antigone. ... Creon asks Antigone if this is true. ... Creon aims to justify his decision to let Antigone's dead brother rot. He also wishes to validate his choice to punish Antigone. ... I believe Antigone's act was morally correct. ...
Pride is part of what makes Antigone heroic. ... This is between Antigone and Polyneices. ... Antigone doesn't mind doing anything on her own. ... Antigone has no problem working by her self either. ... I think Creon feels he must defeat Antigone because she is a woman. ...
In Antigone, by Sophocles, Antigone is the tragic hero of the play, rather than Creon. ... Sophocles wants us to see Antigone as the tragic figure. ... He can either kill Antigone, or spare her life. ... Antigone is in a different position. ... Antigone chooses wisely in defying the law. ...
However, in the play Antigone, Antigone goes against the beliefs and defies the powerful tradition of male domination. In the play, Antigone's life was filled with pain and sorrow. ... Even after all of this, Antigone had even more pain to deal with. ... Antigone didn't fear death, but instead faced it with great bravery and strength. ... That is why Antigone is such an influential character in the play. ...
The Antigone Essay Through "Antigone", the play, Sophocles lets it be known that family is more important than authority. ... Antigone felt awful that Creon was doing such a wrong thing. ... Antigone took a moral stand and buried Polyneices. ... Antigone was Haemon's true love. Haemon committed suicide once he lost Antigone. ...
Antigone is not from a normal family. Her family feels very strong in what they believe in. Especially Antigone and Creon. Antigone did things that other people wouldn't normally do. Some people wouldn't defy authority to do what they believe is right. Creon did things that people wouldn't do. I thi...
Bigger than her body Antigone was right, yet so was Creon. ... However Antigone defied the king. ... The gods sided with Antigone. ... Creon is protagonist against Antigone, who is the antagonist; at the same time, Antigone is the protagonist with Creon as her antagonist. Antigone's actions were justified by divine law. ...
