Gender Roles In Sophocles Antigone

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The struggle between the roles of men and women is a major conflict in Sophocles play Antigone. Sophocles incorporates different, sometimes subtle, ways of thinking into the text that suggest that he might have been trying to rock the boat when it came to the traditional views of thinking of gender roles. Right from the beginning, Ismene says to Antigone, “remember, we are women” (Puchner 708), talking about how they have no power because they are women. Antigone seems to be wanting to get out from under the rule of men and is willing to do what it takes. She tries to get Ismene to go along with her in going against Kreon by burying Polynices. She says to Ismene, “submit to this” (709), but Ismee does not go along with her wishes.
By having the character Antigone go against Kreon, it seems that Sophocles is trying to challenge the traditional role of men and women. How can just one woman stand up to a King and make a change? At times it seems that Antigone is the only one questioning Kreon. Sophocles has a woman character who is brave enough to stand up to a King and question him and his motives. Antigone says to Kreon, “are you waiting for me to accept what you’ve said?”(719). …show more content…
Throughout the play, Kreon, is told that he is wrong. He repeatedly shows that he is superior to women, especially Antigone. He feels like if he lets Antigone get her way, then he is no longer a man, “Now I am no man, but she is a man, if power lies with her in impunity” (718). Even Kreon’s own son, Haimon, tries to convince him to listen to other people’s opinions. Haimon says to his father, “someone else’s perspective might help” (724) as he tries to convince him to listen to

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