Antigone Essay

Julia Lombardo

English 10 Honors-Period B

10/29/08

Antigone Essay


Sexism is bias against one sex. Throughout “Antigone”, this theme is often used

to portray women as being less valuable than men. Antigone is shown as a very

outspoken, determined, courageous and assertive woman. Even though she fights for

what she believes in, many men think that she is trying to out do them. The men often

use “sexism” to make wise remarks about how women should just let the men take

care of everything.

“Let him sow his seed in other furrows.” (Creon, p.217) This is one of the first

times we see sexism used in “Antigone”. After Antigone buried her brother,

Polyneices, Creon thought that she did something that a woman should have never

done. He tries to make her feel guilty and says that her soon-to-be-husband, Haemon

can find another wife in place of her. Haemon was Antigone’s life, and for Creon to

say that he can find someone better than her broke her heart. She was solely trying to

give her brother a proper burial so that he could have rested with honor. It was

almost bold of her to give her brother the proper burial. Antigone as a leader is what

we see through her actions in “Antigone”. She tries to take charge of many situations

and has confidence that she can conquer any task she is faced with. Antigone was

fulfilling the traditional female role of grieving yet her burial of Polyneices is also

seen as a masculine assertion of independence.

“If yield we must, then let it be to men, and never have it said we were worsted by

a woman.” (Creon p. 221) Creon generally dislikes the fact that his niece, Antigone,

has the courage and strength to stand up to him in any given situation. “.. For this I

feel no twinges of regret. And if you judge me fool, perhaps it is because a fool is

judge.” (Antigone p. 211) There is also a sense of Antigone being selfish and

challenging Creon and his ways. She feels that the gods were calling her to bury

Polyneices, in turn, she was gaining the respect of the gods for her own sake.

Antigone's strong will is the last way she demonstrates characteristics of a feminist

during her time. “The dead of Hades know whose act It was. I do not take to those

who take to talk.” (Antigone p. 215)

Antigone is one of few women who openly rebelled against her set position in

life. Throughout the play, Antigone remains true to her qualifications by: admitting

her involvement in the crime, choosing to take her death into her own hands, and

refusing to allow her sister to take the blame. She defied the view of women in the

society she lived in. It wasn't her crime that repulsed the people, it was her gender.

In the Greek society, women had very limited freedom outside of their homes.

Even though men were more dominate at times, women took charge in the

household. Women mostly cooked, cleaned and bore children inside of their oikos, or

households. There were also rules women had to follow when outside of the house.

Women were always escorted by a man wherever they went outside. It was against

their beliefs to go outside alone if you were female.

The Greeks also saw an importance in the burial and bridal roles of women.

Marriage was every woman’s goal before they died. Unlike most women in her

society, Antigone died an unwed virgin, which was not common for women in her

time. The Greek society did not see women as being a very big part of their lives.

When it comes down to it, Antigone was probably the only women in Greek

society that broke the rules and did not care what other people thought because she

was fighting for her life and what she loved. The prevailing message to the Greek

audience about a woman’s role in society was: they were used to keep the household

running smoothly, to obey rules and follow the ways that would not cause a tragedy,

like that of Antigone’s.

“Don’t fear for me. Be anxious of yourself.” (Antigone p. 194)