Antigone sophocles analysis how to#

in answer to his query if she had a share in the burying, fearlessly said: Creon got Antigone arrested and condemned her to death. She bore no grudge against Antigone, although she had remonstrated with her. It is, therefore, not surprising that the apparently weak woman that Ismene was, she was changed beyond recognition at a later stage in the play. But Ismene remained loyal to her in mind. Antigone taunted at her, and at times, rebuked her for cowardice. It is common sense which made her think that Antigone was destined to fail in her mission. But she had not the courage to practice what she professed, or to be more precise, what she felt. Not that Ismene was devoid of principles. But with all her weakness, she had sturdy common sense. But with all her wishful thinking and pious resolution, she was not expected to help Antigone. That is why she said:ДЄgainst the State I am not strong enough.вЂќ It appears as if Ismene was the forerunner of Aristotle, who in his Poetics said that a womanвЂ™s glory consisted in submission. Women, she felt, were subordinate to men. If we transgress the law and defy our King?вЂќ вЂњNow we two left and what will be the end of us, What more can I do, or undo, to help you?вЂќДЄs Antigone sought her help in burying the dead body of Polynices, Ismene recoiled: вЂњMy poor Antigone, if this is really true, At the beginning of the Antigone she was equally helpless, and shaking like an asp. In The Oedipus at Colonus we left Ismene as a helpless girl. Ismene was womanly all through, although, in the course of time she gathered ample strength. But towards the end she became distinctly womanly, although she courted death for a noble cause. Antigone had unwomanly strength and extraordinary courage. She had, however, more of commonsense and amiability.ДЄntigone and Ismene are sharply contrasted right from the beginning. Her temper was softer: she was less heroic. But she had not in her the making of a Joan of Arc. Ismene was as dutiful and affectionate to her brother as Antigone. Later, however, she expressed her eagerness to share the punishment and even death with her stronger and nobler sister. She had no spirit for the deed of daring. She was a typical woman, who wished to do many noble things, but at the time of execution her courage failed her. In the Antigone, Ismene, though more active, was still as helpless. вЂњAnd what shall I do all alone and helpless? When Oedipus mysteriously disappeared forever, Ismene became disconsolate, and thought of dying:ДЄntigone, ever stronger than Ismene, suggested that she [Antigone) should die.

Antigone sophocles analysis how to#

When Creon ordered his guards to take away Antigone and Ismene as hostage of their father, both the sisters stood in awe, and did not know how to record their protest. She came there as a messenger and brought the sad tidings that their two brothers were engaged in an internecine war. At Athens Ismene met her father and sister. Antigone led the blind man across the different land. Devoted and affectionate to her father, she stayed at Thebes, but her heart was all the while with her father in exile. In The Oedipus at Colonus Ismene appeared, but there also she was in the background.