Gender Role Of Women In Antigone By Sophocles - 814 Words

â€Å"No woman shall seduce us. If we must lose, Lets lose to a man, at least. Is a woman stronger than we?† (Sophocles.II.3.539-540) says Creon, King of Thebes and uncle to the disobeying but brave Antigone in Antigone by Sophocles. A patriarchal society is a community in which male domination over women, Sophocles explains the journey of Antigone in getting her brother buried and yielding against the laws of Thebes in a man dominated city. Antigone portrayed in the play is loyal and stubborn, she would do anything that feels ethical and honest to her even if that disregarding the laws created by men. She responds to the standards of King Creon by going against her own blood, not believing that women should subjected to the rule that they†¦show more content†¦She rebels against Creon’s rules and against the Greek patriarchy by continuing on with her plan. Creon’s indignation on antigone causes a disapproving son, who is Antigone’s fiance and ult imately the rest of society, eventually leading to Creon’s ultimate failure to lead as a king. Antigone overturns a fundamental rule, that women are not superior and should not speak out against man created laws. Since Creon has a misogynistic mindset, this leads to the Gods of Thebes to penalize him. â€Å"Nor did I think your edict had such force that you, a mere mortal, could override the gods† (II.4.503-504). Antigone spoke up against Creon for what was right to her, which was a rule followed by her people all the time and a law created by the Gods. However, Sophocles show the reader where fault lies and how women were viewed in Greek society, Antigone, however is a breakout character who goes against the human law and a threat to the status quo. Alternatively, Antigone displays a patriarchal society with divine versus human law and love/hate, but other works of literature convey the similar society. Protagonist, Edna Pontellier views her individual self as neither flawless or a tragedy in the novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Throughout the novel, Edna does not look back to some actions as consequences and is in a stereotyped society where women have to act and be a certain way. This can relate to Antigone and her role in Greek society because women have aShow MoreRelatedWomen in Ancient Greece1638 Words   |  7 PagesGreece is renowned for developing and enacting the concept of democracy, women were excluded from the equation. Women in ancient Greece were believed to be weak of mind and in need of protection by a male guardian such as a brother, husband, or father (Women in Ancient Greece). Sophocles play Antigone encapsulates the conflict in Greek society between genuine and farcical democracy. Greeces patriarchal soci ety excludes women from formal decision-making processes so that, in the case of Creon, leadersRead MoreRejecting Gender Roles In Sophocless Antigone1262 Words   |  6 PagesRejecting Gender Roles in Antigone Human nature dictates that conformity is a safer choice than expressing individuality. When placed in a situation where one must either remain silent or speak their mind and face severe consequences, there is much less risk in taking the first option. Sophocles, an Athenian tragedian from the fifth century BC, confronted this theme throughout one of his most popular works: Antigone. In the play, the title character must decide if she should honor her brother andRead MoreHow Modern Versions Of Medea ( Euripides ) And Antigone ( Sophocles )1246 Words   |  5 PagesGreek theatre have become outdated. Strict gender roles were ever-present in society and a person was judged in relation to his or her compliance with these standards. Ancient Greek theatre hosts many misogynistic examples of the conformity to the gender roles of the time as well as the consequences of rebelling against the gender protocol. Women were to remain invisible, obedient and subordinate and to rebel against these restrictions would condemn women to be seen as psychotics, liars, and traitorsRead MoreEssay about Gender Bias Critic of Antigone1724 Words   |  7 PagesA Gender Bias Approach to Antigone Just as one stone removed can break a bridge, one flaw can bring a man to ruins. The flaw of one man cannot bring down an entire kingdom, but rather one outlook of the king can lead to the demise of the whole. In Sophocles epic tragedy, Antigone, a strong gender bias is present throughout the tragedy, and is partially responsible for the downfall of the king. To Sophocles the king is not always representative of the people, but acts on his own personal desiresRead MoreUse Of Roles And The Social Position Of The Female913 Words   |  4 Pagesarticle about the women in Sophocles play. The author had explained the different types of roles and the social position of the females presented in the Sophocles plays. The author has raised two questions in the article on the social position of the female described by the playwrights and playwright’s opinion on the women’s rights. Sophocles texts do not explain that he faced any problem in characterizing two genders; men and women on stage. Many studies have researched about the roles and functionRead MoreAntigone Role of Women1366 Words   |  6 PagesProfessor Stoner English 1301 October 16, 2012 Antigone Essay Throughout history, cultures from around the world has set hat standards for women to abide to. Up until the twentieth century, women were viewed as second class citizens by society and had less freedom and rights than their male counterparts as compare today in the modern world where women can be more involve in society. Although women still face discrimination such as the glass ceiling in the business corporateRead MoreThe Notions of Justice in The Republic and Antigone1707 Words   |  7 Pagesphilosophical literature, notions of justice are presented plainly. Plato’s The Republic and Sophocles’ Antigone both address elements of death, tyranny and immorality, morality, and societal roles. These topics are important elements when addressing justice, whether in the societal representation or personal representation. Antigone uses the concept of death in many ways when unfolding the tragic story of Antigone and her rebellion. The most obvious way is how death is used as a form of capital punishmentRead MoreWomen, Sisters, And Wives : Women Essay1485 Words   |  6 PagesPrincesses, Sisters, and Wives: Women Portrayed in Ancient Greece It is convenient to pride modernity for all the progression it has made since ancient times, particularly when it comes to gender equality. In Homer’s The Odyssey and Sophocles’ Antigone, the ancient societal view of women is blatant in the text whether it is in Creon’s sexist remarks or referring to the disloyal maids of Odysseus as â€Å"sluts, who lay with suitors† (Homer, XXII.516), but in these same works, this status quo is challengedRead MoreEssay on Antigone1426 Words   |  6 Pagesultimately suffer from the consequences of their actions. In Sophocles Antigone, these prejudices notably surface in the form of paternalism as demonstrated through Creons government, highlighting the importance of gender roles throughout the play. Therefore, analyzing the motif of gender roles and its effect on the definition of justice through the perspectives of Ismene, Antigone, and Creon enables the audience to understand how Sophocles macroscopic analogy to huma nitys prejudiced judgments asRead MoreThe Prologue Of Antigone899 Words   |  4 PagesThis passage is an excerpt from the prologue of ‘Antigone’, an Ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles. In this scene, Antigone is trying to convince her sister, Ismene, to help her bury their brother, Polynices. It is significant to the rest of the play as gives explanation to future events and establishes the characters of Antigone and Ismene and their roles in the overall plot. Additionally, the excerpt gives a strong idea of the setting. In the scene, the audience can infer ideas about past events