Ismene and Antigone

Antigone and Ismene

Since the beginning of time, women have tried to make a stand for themselves in society. In the mid 1900's, many feminist movements were formed for equal rights. These movements accomplished a lot for them; however, there are still numerous women that depend on society and their husband. This general attitude can also be found in ancient Greece. Furthermore, there have been many plays written on this subject matter. In fact, the most famous play was Antigone, written by Sophocles, one of the greatest playwrights of ancient Greece. Above all in the play, Sophocles emphasizes on Antigone and her sister Ismene's feelings and reactions towards different situation. As a result, Sophocles demonstrated effectively the different attitudes in women in our society. Throughout the entire play, the sisters act and think differently when they encounter various obstacles.

Antigone and Ismene each have different views on their father, Oedipus. Their attitudes towards him can be traced very early in the play Oedipus at Colonus. Oedipus raised Antigone after he blinded himself after the horrible ordeal seen in the first play, Oedipus the King. She helped him travel around Greece since he couldn't see at all. "So where have we come to now, Antigone, my child, this blind man and you-what people and what town?"(87, Oedipus at Colonus) As the reader realized, Oedipus relied entirely on Antigone his child to lead him through his journey, and evidently, through his life. She accomplished everything for her father, from feeding him to helping him dress. She was very loyal and caring towards her family, especially Oedipus. As a result, she became independent very early on in her life; it seems in the play that it was too early for a woman. On the other hand, Creon, Oedipus' brother-in- law, raised Ismene in Thebes. Even though she was very distant from her father, Ismene kept in touch by sending him news of Thebes. Likewise to Oedipus her father, Ismene relied...