Antigone
Section I: Essay Questions:
A.1) Prompt: How are Antigone, Ismene and Eurydice portrayed in the play? How is this similar or different from how they are observed by the minor characters?
Although ancient Greece was a male-dominate society, Sophocles' work Antigone, portrays women as being strong and capable of making wise decisions. In this tragedy, Sophocles uses three main characters who are women to represent different models of female behavior. Traditionally women are characterized as weak and subordinate as Ismene is portrayed in this way. But Sophocles uses the character of Antigone to allow women to present realistic viewpoints about their character.
One model is represented by the heroine, Antigone. She's presented as a rebel among women due to her passionate outbursts and her unconventional behavior. For example, Antigone believes that convictions can be had, feelings can be experienced, and work can be done by women as well as by men. She doesn't believe that she needs a man to tell her what to say, feel, or do. She knows on her own what's right and wrong, what's comfortable and uncomfortable, and what to do about them. For that reason, Antigone is considered a hero by the minor characters, because no woman in the Greek Society could disobey men's laws.
Another model of female behavior is represented by the Theban Queen Eurydice, who is Creon's wife, and Haemon's mother. Eurydice is a minor character who only appears towards the end of the play. Her main contribution is her suicide. She seems to have lived in her husband's shadow, and been content to follow his orders. But with the loss of her son, she's in a difficult position. Eurydice is put into a situation in which she has to choose between two decisions. Does she continue to respect Creon and live life as the obedient female? Or does she dare to question an authority that costs her the live of her child? She's suffering enough to not want to continue living on Creon's terms. But at the same
A.1) Prompt: How are Antigone, Ismene and Eurydice portrayed in the play? How is this similar or different from how they are observed by the minor characters?
Although ancient Greece was a male-dominate society, Sophocles' work Antigone, portrays women as being strong and capable of making wise decisions. In this tragedy, Sophocles uses three main characters who are women to represent different models of female behavior. Traditionally women are characterized as weak and subordinate as Ismene is portrayed in this way. But Sophocles uses the character of Antigone to allow women to present realistic viewpoints about their character.
One model is represented by the heroine, Antigone. She's presented as a rebel among women due to her passionate outbursts and her unconventional behavior. For example, Antigone believes that convictions can be had, feelings can be experienced, and work can be done by women as well as by men. She doesn't believe that she needs a man to tell her what to say, feel, or do. She knows on her own what's right and wrong, what's comfortable and uncomfortable, and what to do about them. For that reason, Antigone is considered a hero by the minor characters, because no woman in the Greek Society could disobey men's laws.
Another model of female behavior is represented by the Theban Queen Eurydice, who is Creon's wife, and Haemon's mother. Eurydice is a minor character who only appears towards the end of the play. Her main contribution is her suicide. She seems to have lived in her husband's shadow, and been content to follow his orders. But with the loss of her son, she's in a difficult position. Eurydice is put into a situation in which she has to choose between two decisions. Does she continue to respect Creon and live life as the obedient female? Or does she dare to question an authority that costs her the live of her child? She's suffering enough to not want to continue living on Creon's terms. But at the same