Antigone By Creon Feminist Analysis

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In Sophocles’ Antigone, Creon’s strong sense of patriotism clashes with Antigone’s ethical responsibility, creating a battle between gender roles. Creon, the newly crowned King of Thebes, demonstrates his devotion to Thebes, a mainly patriarchal society, through the importance and priority he places on his duties. Creon’s regard for the law induces his abandonment of morality, when he refuses to honor both of Thebes’ martyrs, Polyneices and Eteocles, in an equal manner. The characterization of women in Sophocles’ Antigone portray women in a subordinate sense to men, while the actual events of the play demonstrate the strength and bravery of a woman, Antigone, indicating the presence of traditional feminist ideals throughout the play. Antigone …show more content…

Creon states upon gaining the throne “There is no art that teaches us to know/ The temper, mind or spirit of any man/ Until he has been proved by the government/ And lawgiving.” (175-178). This ironic comment is declared when he acquires his kingship, however the very first law, which forbids the burial of Polyneices, shows Creon’s hypocrisy and flawed rule. Creon refuses to take an ethical standpoint on the matter like Antigone and instead continues to immorally act on what he believes is patriotic. When Creon discovers by the Sentry that Antigone was responsible for the crime, he becomes enraged and speaks irrationally against women. “Die then, and love the dead if thou must; / No woman shall be the master while I live.” (523-524). This quotation directly implies that Creon’s reasoning for punishment is not based on rationality, but sexism, demonstrating, yet again, the theme of women’s assumed inferiority. After Antigone’s simple confession, Creon instantly condemns her to death, despite the fact that she is the fiancé of his son, Haemon and the daughter of his sister, Jocasta. Antigone, even after the issue of her death sentence, fearlessly remains firm in her beliefs and convictions. Antigone continues to assume the role of an anomaly in society, contrasting the familiar character of a woman in

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