Antigone

Antigone is in a very difficult situation. Her brother, Polyneices, has without a doubt attempted to execute an atrocious crime against the city of Thebes but does he not deserve a proper burial? And as his sister is it not Antigone’s duty to provide this? Antigone seems to feel a strong sense of what is right from wrong and an unquavering loyalty to her family. She is willing to risk her own life knowing she faces “death by stoning publicly” if caught (line 41).

Ismene’s words, “we are only women, not meant in nature to fight against men, and that we are ruled, by those who are stronger” (lines 70-73) are significant in that they illustrate the social context in which Antigone chooses to make her stand against the unfair treatment to Polyneices. Being a woman in a male dominated society, her voice will not be heard by men of power such as Creon. Her opinion is without value and therefore she puts herself at grave risk.

In line 113 when Antigone says, “No suffering of mine will be enough to make me die ignobly,” she shows that she is unwilling to passively accept her status and lack of power. Ignoble can be defined as not honorable in character or purpose or of humble origin or social status (Oxford Dictionary). Antigone believes that providing Polyneices the semblance of a burial is the honorable and just course of action. In following her morality she defies her social status questioning not only her role in society but also the role of women as a whole in Thebes.