In the play Antigone by Sophocles, Ismene and Antigone attributes are extremely different from each other. The main difference between the both of them is that Antigone creates change through the play with her bravery while Ismene hopes that she can make a change without any action. This difference is mainly shown through the decision to whether or not to bury their brother Polynices. Antigone is brave and foolish throughout the play while Ismene is cowardly. Antigone specifically shows her bravery when she risks her life to have Polynices buried with honor, while Ismene worries for her sister’s safety and cowards from disobedience. At the beginning of the play even Antigone questions if Ismene is a coward or not “You’ll soon show what you …show more content…
/ And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory” (85-86). This act and Antigone's loyalty to her brother forms the main plot of the play that helps enhance the play. Antigone shows her true bravery, because she is willing to die to honor her brother, that even death does not scare her from doing the proper thing. Ismene on the other hand, shows her true cowardice by denying Antigone’s request to help her with the burial and is scared to disobey Creon’s law “I’d do them no dishonor . . . / but defy the city? I have no strength for that” (92-93). Ismene admits that she doesn’t have the strength like Antigone to disobey the law that is set forth, therefore it shows her inaction to make a change. Antigone responds by saying “You have your excuses. I am on my way, / I’ll raise a mound for him, for my dear brother” (94-95). Antigone believes that Ismene is just making excuses, because she is too scared to break the law and is just trying to find a way to get Antigone’s approval so that she doesn’t feel like a coward letting down her
At the beginning of the play, Antigone brought Ismene outside the city gates at night for a top secret meeting. Antigone wanted to bury her brother Polyneices' body because even though he died in dishonor he was her brother. Ismene refused to disobey the king which is also their Uncle Creon, and she failed to talk Antigone out of doing the act herself. "Consider, sister, how our father died,/hated and infamous; how he brought to light/his own offenses..Then, mother...did shame/violently on her life, with twisted cords. Third, our two brothers, on a single day...Each killed the other, hand against brother's hand." (Antigone, Lines 59-65) In this quote, Antigone justified her reasons for going against the law describing how her parents went through so much, how their father was banished and due to this their mother had committed suicide because her reputation went down to the drain, even after all that their two brothers went into battle against one another and died in the process. Ismene was sympathetic, but still she was noble and afraid of Creon so she did not offer her help to Antigone.
Due to the actions she took based on her emotions, Antigone suffered a far worse fate than Ismene. During her conversation with Ismene, Antigone says: “Ismene, I am going to bury him” (Sophocles, 3). To this Ismene replies with: “Bury him! You have just said the new law forbids it” (Sophocles, 3). This is the first time we experience the difference in the sisters’ behavior. Antigone has decided to bury Polyneices, although Creon’s new law forbids it. She believed that the God’s proclamation means more than Creon’s, and tells Ismene: “I will bury the brother I love” (Sophocles, 4). Ismene, on the other hand, knows that this action is forbidden by Creon’s law and isn’t willing to break it. She says: “But think of the danger! Think what Creon will do! [...] Think how much more terrible than these our own death would be if we should go against Creon and do what he has forbidden![...]The law is strong, we must give into the law in this thing, and in worse. I beg the Dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority. And I think it is dangerous business to be always meddling” (Sophocles, 3-4). Ismene clearly respects the law and knows the repercussions of breaking it, something that Antigone chooses to ignore.
Antigone can be described as a woman who valued her family, valued her self respect and expect a great deal out of life. On the other side, Antigone's uncle Creon can be described as a practical man who valued his state over the individuals. Also, he valued his duty as a leader. First, both Antigone and Creon were strong willed and inflexible people. They refused to change their decisions. For example, Antigone refused to listen to her sister although she had told Antigone that they were women and they can't do anything about it "Remember we are women, we're not born to contend with men." Another similarity was that Antigone and Creon sealed each others fate. That's when Antigone decided to bury her brother although she knew that anyone who disobeys the laws will be killed. They were so independent. For example, Antigone was independent when she decided to bury her brother's body by her own after her sister Ismene refused to participate with her. Moreover, Creon was independent because he refused to accept anyone's opinions except his own. To illustrate, when his son haiemon came to talk to him and he refused to listen "Stop- before you make me choke with anger- the gods! You, you're senile, must you be insane?"(W). He also claimed that the Terisesais has been corrupted by money like other prophets.
In Antigone, by Sophocles, which centers around themes such as bravery in the face of death, civil unrest, and unyielding dedication to divine justice, it is easy to understand why Ismene’s character is often called cowardly, docile, and indecisive. However, this view of her undercuts the most basic facet of her personality, the one which is absent in Antigone — a will to live. With this in mind, Ismene’s personality is far one-dimensional, as there are certain traits she needs to embody in order to survive. She endured her tragic upbringing through rational thought and an optimism that others will do the same, all the while keeping her love for her unfortunate family intact. Though not fearless in the face of death, Ismene is a sympathetic character whose rationality, optimism, and loyalty are not to be underrated.
Antigone shows the attribute of boldness. She is constantly going her own direction. She is a leader, not a follower. "Ismene: What? You'd bury him when a law forbids the city? Antigone: Yes! He is my brother and- deny it as you will- your brother too."(61). This is where Antigone's boldness begins to surface. She is expressing her disagreement with King Creon's law. This is extremely daring of her to do because she is defying the law of the land. On the other hand, Ismene displays the quality of being a coward. She says, "Remember, we are women, we're not born to contend with men."(62). On the contrary to what Ismene's brain tells her to do, her heart is screaming to go and bury her brother, and defy Creon's dishonorable law. It is not until the middle to end of the play that Ismene's true self emerges and she agrees with Antigone. This is just one of the ways Antigone and Ismene are the same at heart, but take different paths to get to their real inner person.
"You ought to realize we are only women, not meant in nature to fight against men, and that we are ruled, by those who are stronger, to obedience in this and even more painful matters." In the opening of the play, Antigone and Ismene meet in the night. Antigone laments Creon's decree that whoever tries to bury Polyneices or mourn for him must be stoned to death. Although Ismene declares that the sisters lack any power in the situation, Antigone insists that she will bury Polyneices, and asks for Ismene's help. Ismene states that though she loves Polyneices, she must abide by the king's decree. Ismene, unlike Antigone, fears death. She believes that there is nothing that she can do. She reminds Antigone that they are on...
In the beginning of the story Antigone went to Ismene to warn her about the new decree of King Creon. King Creon had sworn that no one was to bury him or even mourn for him. Antigone then told Ismene of her intentions of going against the new law and giving their brother the burial he deserved. Antigone then gave Ismene the choice to prove herself loyal to her family or betray it. Ismene stated that she could not go against the law of Creon. She felt that they could not go against Creon because they were only women and she was afraid of what their deaths would be like. At this point in the story Ismene was not willing to sacrifice her life for her brothers honor. She still wanted to help, but she was too afraid of what the punishment would be. For example Ismene stated, “I beg the Dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority.”
One of the reasons that Antigone is able to have the best argument is because of her great use of pathos. In the begging of the play, she starts using pathos with Ismene when she tries to convince her to help bury Polyneices. She says that if she does not bury her brother’s body, the dogs and birds will pick away at his body. Also, she says that she will not dishonor him and that it is actually her “duty” to bury her brother. Antigone refuses to “betray” him and will defend his honor by doing what is right and burying his body. Antigone then challenges Ismene by asking her if she is willing to defile the gods by ...
Antigone is the stubborn, free-willed sister who wants to do what’s right and not think about the consequences that will come to play in the future. “This female character takes on a rebellious role quite different from that of the other more docile woman of the time,” (Ashley Bouque). The quote talks about Antigone being different, while Ismene is more docile and does what she is told. Take the Woman rights movement, even though its thousands of years later. Before the Woman rights movement happened, woman did what they were told and followed the rules, like Ismene. After the movement, woman did what they thought were right to them and didn’t care about the rules, like Antigone.
Although both sisters have lost their brothers, Antigone is the only one who will go against her king to do what she knows is right. When Antigone asks her sister if she will help her bury their brother Polyneices, Ismene responds with, “We are only women; we cannot fight with men, Antigone! The law is strong; we must give into the law…” (Ismene 774). Naturally, Ismene should be afraid for herself, as well for the safety of her sister because what Antigone is asking of her will mostly likely cause them both to be killed. However, she should be braver like Antigone, and realize that she must do what is morally right for their family, and give her brother the proper burial that he deserves. Afterward, when Antigone has already been captured, Ismene then comes forth to try and share the punishment that has been given to Antigone, but Antigone tells King Creon that she has done nothing. In addition, when Creon asks Ismene if she had anything to do with the crime, and Antigone denies it, Ismene then replies, “But now I know what you meant; and I am here to join you, to take my share of punishment” (Ismene 785). Although now Ismene feels like she needs to stand up to the King and do what is right for her
Choosing to follow authority and the law is admirable and important in order to have a stable society; however, prioritizing family over all is imbedded in humanity. Family is part of one’s identity and greatly affects one's morals and opinions. If a person solely lives a rigid life, following authority over family, then compassion and the ability to be flexible is lost. Sophocles poses if authority or family is superior through the characters Antigone and Creon as their actions and opinions drastically contrast. Creon puts more importance on his rule and the law, while Antigone emphasizes the devotion to her bloodline and the gods. Antigone, although depicting that authority and the king’s rule is important, puts more importance
Antigone’s own excessive pride drives her to her defeat. Her arrogance and strive for self-importance blinds her to the consequences of her actions. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, rejects to take part in the crime leaving Antigone all on her own. Ismeme declares “why rush to extremes? Its madness, madness” (Sophocles 80). Ismene fails to comprehend the logic behind her siste...
Antigone also demonstrates loyalty towards her sister, Ismene. At first when the two sisters quarrel over the burial of Polyneices, Antigone demonstrates hatred and resentment towards Ismene. Antigone accuses her of dishonoring her brother and dishonoring the gods. She also attacks Ismene’s morals by calling her weak and...
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.
She had also been able to share her thoughts and ideas with her sister Ismene. Throughout the play, Ismene changed her stance on death. In the beginning, Ismene was conflicted over the fate of Polyneices’ body. Ismene understood Antigone’s frustration, and why Antigone would want to give Polyneices a proper burial. Polyneices and Eteocles were Ismene’s brothers, as well as Antigone’s. Therefore, Ismene sympathized with Antigone, trying to have their family member’s soul rest in peace. However, Ismene also did not want to go against Creon’s law prohibiting the burial of Polyneices. Instead of being caught trying to get her brother the proper burial resulting in death, Ismene would rather live and attempted to talk Antigone out of breaking the law. Ismene pleaded to Antigone that there had to be another option; they would find a way to bury Polyneices but not have to break the law in order to do so. Ismene even tried to reach out to Antigone by saying that as women they were too weak to dig a grave in order to bury Polyneices. By not supporting Antigone’s decision, Antigone lost her trust in Ismene. Antigone saw Ismene as a traitor to their family by not respecting Polyneices’