Antigone Gender Roles

In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the audience can clearly see that the role of women in Thebes is a very important theme. Women in ancient times were viewed as inferior to men in all respects.. In the case of Greek women, their freedom was tied to the leniency of the male figure in their life who held control over them; the rules and restrictions placed on them were unfair even for the ancient world. Antigone takes an important and strong stand for a good cause challenging the social values and rules in Thebes……..That is important because the play revolves around the power and struggle between a main male and female character, Antigone and Creon. The play sets women on display by introducing the audience to the “rightful” submissive woman

When Ismene says, “Think how we’ll die far worse than all the rest, / if we defy the law and move against / the king’s decree, against his royal power. / We must remember that by birth we’re women, / and, as such, we shouldn’t fight with men. / Since those who rule are much more powerful, / we must obey in this and in events / which bring us even harsher agonies.” (Sophocles 74-82). Ismene tries to explain to Antigone how women were born to be subservient to men and if they don’t obey them then they would be Ismene represents the typical Greek women who are passive and does not bother to take any risks for the good cause and does not have any sense of freedom. Antigone, however, decides to go against what Creon decrees and give her brother a proper burial. Her rebellion is alarming as it is against the gender role set by the men and the hierarchy. Antigone is willing to still continue to go against Creon and his ruling even if Ismene doesn't support her, “I’ll still bury him. It would be fine to die / while doing that. I’ll lie there with him, / with a man I love, pure and innocent, / for all my crime” (Sophocles 89-92).........This proves that Antigone follows her own values and sticks to