FREE ESSAY ON THE WOMEN CHARACTERS OF ANTIGONE

THE WOMEN CHARACTERS OF ANTIGONE

Antigone by Sophocles is one of the most distinguished pieces of theatrical work that
reflects upon Greek mythology and culture. Antigone has several themes and circumstantial
settings that can be indirectly referred or related to in modern society. Sophocles uses
various and strategically placed characters to present his play as well as his themes.
The play mainly revolves around Antigone who acts alongside her elder sister, Ismene.
Both are daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta who are in the context of the play deceased.
This essay will analyze these two characters alongside one other female minor character,
Eurydice who contributes significantly to the development and success of the play.
From the start of the play, the audience is given a vague idea of both Antigone's and
Ismene's characters. Both sisters have suffered the anguish of having lost their
brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices. It is at the beginning of the play that we see
Antigone's braveness. She notifies Ismene of her intentions to bury Polyneices despite
the fact that such an act is punishable by death, for Creon considers Polyneices to be a
traitor and that by not having his body buried, Polyneices suffers a posthumous
punishment. She makes this declaration while being fully aware of the penalties involved
and this brings to light several other things about her character. The audience is able
to see that she is confident in her actions and will justify anything that she does.
Meanwhile Ismene can be viewed as being afraid and uneager to agree to an action. She
confronts her sister's statements by saying, " But think of the danger ! Think what Creon
will do ! " (34, Prologue).This statement by Ismene create a vague feeling in the
audience that Ismene is a pessimist. This view is further reinforced when she says, " And
do what he has forbidden ! We are women / We cannot fight with men, Antigone ! " (46-47,
Prologue). Hence Ismene is seen seeking a way out by giving excuses that are in a sense
linked to negative stereotypes and this makes a reflection of her pessimistic nature.
Antigone's actions at the beginning of the play reflect her impulsivness and rash manner
in handling situations. Rather than try to confront Creon regarding the burial of her
brother she goes ahead to bury him. Her impulsive manner is also seen when she doubts
Ismene's promise that she will not divulge any information to anybody else regarding
Antigone's plans to bury her brother. She does this despite the reasonable consideration
that Ismene is her only sister and family member left. Her actions at this point also
reflect on her indifference in carrying out actions that reflect on others. She does not
seem to care about the fact that burying her brother may have unfavorable consequences on
Ismene who would lose her sister and at the same time be in a dilemma. Ismene would have
to risk telling the authorities and get her sister prosecuted so as to be a true patriot
and to save her own life or keep mum and be prosecuted for aiding and abetting an offense
alongside her sister whom she will eventually loose, regardless of what she decides to do
. This scenario presents a strong argument that Ismene is considerate and rational as she
eventually decides to keep Antigone's plans secret and continues to do so even when
Antigone attacks her. She responds by saying, " But a loyal friend indeed to those who
love." (85, Prologue). This demonstrates Ismene's passive and unvengeful nature.
Antigone bears responsibility well and can therefore be seen to be responsible. When
brought before Creon, she admits her actions in burying Polyneices without much ado, she
audaciously confesses, " I do. I deny nothing " (52, ODE I, Scene II). She goes ahead and
justifies her action, and calmly makes it clear that she is not afraid of the punishment
due to be imposed on her.. In contrast Ismene bears a sense of responsibility just like
her sister. When brought before Creon, she admits her role in Antigone's 'crime' without
hesitation, she says, " Yes, if she will let me say so. I am guilty. " This and the
ensuing exchange that follows between the sisters also brings to light other aspects of
the sisters personalities.
One of the aspects that is brought out by this exchange is that of loyalty. Both Ismene
and Antigone are loyal to each other even in a situation where it is at the expense of
death. Ismene is ready to die alongside her sister. At the same time Antigone cares too
deeply for Ismene and does not want Ismene to suffer the punishment of death. The idea
that loyalty exists between the two sisters is reinforced by the fact that Ismene, while
in the face of death, defends her sister. When Antigone is declared as having lost her
mind by Creon, she says, " Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver, King." (153, ODE
I, Scene II). Other events that had occurred earlier in the play portray this feeling of
loyalty and the sisterly love that exists between Ismene and Antigone. Both sisters place
family duty above everything else. Ismene's earlier caution at the beginning of the play
can now be interpreted as an act of sisterly love and concern.
Eurydice who is Creon's wife cum queen and Antigone are emotionally impulsive. Antigone
commits suicide when she is sentenced to death and confined to a vault of stone. Eurydice
in turn commits suicide when she hears about the death of her son, Haemon. Hence both
characters can be seen as compulsive and quick to act rather than face the harsh reality
of suffering.
All in all it can be said that Sophocles primarily uses the various characteristics
presented by Antigone, Ismene and Eurydice to develop his play. Although of these
characters are the same gender their characteristics differ greatly and this lies in with
the underlying themes of the play.
Bibliography
Sophocles. Antigone. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Literature and the
Writing Process. Eds. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk. 4th ed. Upper
Saddle River: Prentice, 1996. 660-685.