Antigone Gender Roles
Antigone is a drama-filled tragedy that speaks on topics such as tragic heroes, an arrogant king’s grief, and the gender roles in ancient Greece. Kreon tells his son, Haimon, “If yield we must, then let it be to men, and never have it said we worsted by a woman.” This play says a woman’s place in society is beneath the men, where the only responsibilities they have are to serve their husbands and take care of the children. The play portrays women as weak and not worthy of being defended by their spouse, and it’s not only men who hold these views.
Antigone’s sister Ismene complies with these unofficial gender rules and never tries to “rebel” against her femininity. When Antigone attempts to recruit Ismene’s help with burying their brother Polyneices, …show more content…
He thinks so lowly of women, he does not even believe they are worthy of being compared to a man. “That’s why we have to defend orderly people, and never let women get the better of us. If we must fall, better to fall to a real man and not be called worse than women.” (Kreon.821-824.48) Though power and control are the two most important ideas to Kreon, if he did have to fall prey to anyone, he would rather it be to a man than a woman. Yet another situation where a man sees himself as superior to a woman, not because she’s physically weaker but because she’s a woman. Kreon also believes women shouldn’t be defended because they are practically worthless and easily replaceable.
Kreon’s son Haimon tries to persuade his father to spare Antigone’s life because he loves her and Kreon responds “Rotten, degraded, on your knees to a woman! Everything you’ve said was for her sake.” (Kreon.899-900.51) Kreon’s negative view of women has clouded his judgement so much that he’s willing to insult his son’s masculinity to get his point across. Kreon’s misogyny is obvious when he implies that defending a woman is “rotten” and “degraded”.
Sophocles’ Antigone is a tragedy featuring important concepts like civil law and the downfall of a royal family. One of the most crucial objectives of the play is how gender roles were interpreted and applied to both men and women. Whatever the gender may be, the conclusion was always the same: women are weak and sit lower than men on any
Antigone’s sister Ismene complies with these unofficial gender rules and never tries to “rebel” against her femininity. When Antigone attempts to recruit Ismene’s help with burying their brother Polyneices, …show more content…
He thinks so lowly of women, he does not even believe they are worthy of being compared to a man. “That’s why we have to defend orderly people, and never let women get the better of us. If we must fall, better to fall to a real man and not be called worse than women.” (Kreon.821-824.48) Though power and control are the two most important ideas to Kreon, if he did have to fall prey to anyone, he would rather it be to a man than a woman. Yet another situation where a man sees himself as superior to a woman, not because she’s physically weaker but because she’s a woman. Kreon also believes women shouldn’t be defended because they are practically worthless and easily replaceable.
Kreon’s son Haimon tries to persuade his father to spare Antigone’s life because he loves her and Kreon responds “Rotten, degraded, on your knees to a woman! Everything you’ve said was for her sake.” (Kreon.899-900.51) Kreon’s negative view of women has clouded his judgement so much that he’s willing to insult his son’s masculinity to get his point across. Kreon’s misogyny is obvious when he implies that defending a woman is “rotten” and “degraded”.
Sophocles’ Antigone is a tragedy featuring important concepts like civil law and the downfall of a royal family. One of the most crucial objectives of the play is how gender roles were interpreted and applied to both men and women. Whatever the gender may be, the conclusion was always the same: women are weak and sit lower than men on any