![]() Vital to the play is Antigone’s conflict with Creon. Antigone shines as a beacon for her contemporaries and for future generations who aspire to emulate her courage and honor. This speaks to the power of feminist thought. Her divergent thought puts her at odds with her entire family and her own survival. Antigone disagrees and decides to proceed with her plan. Ismene believes that women, including herself and Antigone, should not and cannot disobey Creon’s orders by burying their own brother. Antigone confronts the difficult situation of whether or not to bury her brother Polynices against the wishes of her uncle, Creon the king. ” These words provide insight into the female animus. Ismene says “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. Antigone’s relationship with her sister Ismene also acutely expresses her feminist attributes. Order custom essay Antigone as a Feminist IconĪntigone’s razor sharp temerity captures the spirit of modern and nascent feminism as she slashes the societal fabric into which she is woven. Her very existence as the protagonist and, simultaneously, the antagonist defines her character as the adversary of man and thereby the adversary of the world. In the face of this efficiently and tightly controlled agency, Antigone rebels with what Catherine Holland describes as an “otherness” and an “anti-authoritarian” bent. This authoritarian rule placed women in a subordinate role and extinguished any hopes of power. The patriarchy consisted of men who considered themselves of higher importance and standing, and men who would assign women duties and expect them to perform without question. In 442 BC, women believed that they were inferior to men because men held power and influence over the people and the cities. Sophocles paints a vivid portrait of a male dominated society. ![]() ” Antigone’s introduction as a feminist is within the context of a fiercely sexist civilization. Through the women’s movement, women have won the right to vote, and can now compete for traditionally male roles in the workplace.Īlthough the feminist movement has largely taken place during the last 200 year, many figures in history have embodied characteristics of the contemporary feminist, such as the character of Antigone in Sophocles’ “Antigone. The goal of the feminist movement has generally been to seek equality between the sexes. ![]() Antigone, however, believed that she was just as strong as the men who ruled society during that time, which led to her downfall. ![]() ” Men occupied the land, ruled the towns and assigned the women duties to perform. Antigone as a Feminist Icon Male authority is a dominant theme in Sophocles’ “Antigone. ![]()
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