Antigone: Modern Day Feminist

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Greek tragedy is in itself a conflicting story of right and wrong. The characters in the play cannot be clearly labeled as right or wrong, because “in tragedy we have forces confronting each other that are equally legitimate, and equally justified.” (Srigley 79) In the playwright Antigone the heroes are both equally justified in their actions and the reader is open to take other sides. However, through the conflicting ideals in the story there is an issue that comes to light that is similar to the modern day feminist. Antigone, in the play can be perceived as an early version of a feminist, although she is more inclined to view herself as a follower of the God’s. So, what is it that sparks Antigone to become this early feminist? The playwright of Antigone tells the story of two brother killed in battle for opposing beliefs. One brother in hailed a hero while the other is hailed a traitor. The traitor, Polynices, is sentenced by Creon to an improper burial, and his body is to be left out in the open for the animals to eat. This sparks Antigone’s desire to oppose…show more content…
Antione fully expects her sister to agree with her and go against Creon’s law in order to bury their brother. However, the response she receives is much different than expected. Ismene tells Antione, “Remember we are women, we’re not born to contend with men. Then too, we’re underlings, rules by much stronger hands, so we must submit to this, and things still worse.” (Fagles 62) Ismene is telling Antione that it is a women’s duty to simply obey without question the ideals and decrees of men, and that there are far worse things that women must endure than an improper burial. Antigone responds to her sister by stating; “Do as you like, dishonor the laws the gods hold in honor.” (Fagles 63) To Antigone the laws of the God’s are much higher than the laws of man, and so going against Creon is obeying a much higher
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