Ismene In Antigone

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Comparing Ismene to Myself

"Antigone", written by Sophocles, is an ancient greek play that tells the tale of a strong independent young woman. However, the character I would like to focus on is Ismene, the older and wiser sister to the main character. While analyzing all of the characters from this storyline, I most strongly identify with Ismene, for we have many similarities in personality. We have a countless number of the same ideas about how to live life. We both strongly believe in abiding by the rules, minding our own business, and we both have younger sisters that we strongly care for. These specific similarities make for two very closely related beings.

Ismene places a lot of value in following the rules. For all of her life, she …show more content…
She has witnessed the heartbreak and drama that comes out of it, and it is simply something she does not desire. While Ismene is pleading for Antigone to not break the law, she also adds that Antigone should not bother with it, and she should never agonize about things that are out of her hands. During this critical conversation, Ismene shares with Antigone, "I think it is dangerous business to always be meddling" (prologue.51). She is aware how much her sister cares about this, so she needed to work even harder to help her understand; she warns her sister that she can't help the situation provided that it is not in her control.

I have the same thinking, for I always keep to myself and try not to overthink the overrated dealings of those around me. Even if it is something I care strongly and deeply about, I will stay out of it to avoid petty conflict. I have never seen it appealing to get into others' business; it only causes drama, and I see absolutely no point in bringing that upon myself. There is no logical reason for putting myself into these kind of situations. It seems to me that Ismene believes this as well, and this is another trait that Ismene and I have in

Family In Sophocles Antigone

rules and not bury him? In Antigone, Polyneicês and Eteoclês died in the war but Polyneicês was fighting against his brother so Creon the king of Thebes decides that Eteoclês will be buried with honors but Polyneicês wouldn’t he will be left on the fields for that carrion birds. Creon threatens that whoever buries Polyneicês will be executed but Antigone believes that she has to bury him to stay true to him even after death but does Ismene think the same? Antigone and Ismene are both sisters but they…

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Everyday Use And Antigone Analysis

Motivation is the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. All forms of literature have characters with motivations. In the two different pieces, “Everyday Use” and Antigone, there are very similar themes of motivation between the characters, Dee and Ismene. In “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, one of the characters, Dee, is trying to get in touch with her African heritage. Dee is motivated to gain attention and style. She changes her name because she “couldn’t bear it…

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Conflicting Influences In Sophocles Antigone

Sophocles in Antigone uses Ismene to convey two conflicting influences. Ismene is torn between following the civil law or the divine law, in order to bury Polynices. These two influences illuminate the meaning of Antigone as a whole. Ismene struggles to follow the civil law in order to avoid punishment. Additionally, She tries to change Antigone’s mind about burying Polynices. Ismene loves her sister, and she wants to keep her out of harm’s way. Fearing that she and Antigone were too weak to make…

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Antigone Paper

life that appeared concrete, foiled by inward beauty and a life that had convictions obtained complete. These two parallels of two persons and of two natures are taken up by Sophocles in one of his greatest works and plays Antigone. In the play, the characters Antigone and Ismene represent different attributes and moralities of man. While one follows the law of man, the other follows that of a higher power, a power that transcends time, a power of the super natural and sublime. The two characters…

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Essay Women vs men

challenged the law of state under death penalty. The play carries the idea that even in those times; women have the possibility of self-realization and can be as strong and wise as men. In Antigone, Sophocles describes the type of pride that allows men to create laws that substitute for divine principles. Also “Antigone” is a thoughtful example of Greek tragedy because the play contains all traditional Greek tragedy elements as well. Some of those elements mention or illustrate that the play is written…

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Oedipus 'Familial Honor In Sophocles' Antigone

Antigone is an ancient Greek, tragedy play written by Sophocles. Oedipus had 4 children named Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, and Polyneices. Eteocles and Polyneices killed each other and Eteocles received a proper burial, while Polyneices was left for the birds in a field. The King, Creon, has declared the if someone is to move the body they will be put to death. Antigone and her sister Ismene must decide what to do. Antigone and Ismene differ in their priorities and views of authority Familial Honor…

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Antigone Reflective Thought Prompts

Antigone Reflective thought prompts The Greek legend Antigone, the main character Antigone foils the characteristics and values with her sister Ismene. According to some scholars, Antigone represents individual freedom while Ismene symbolizes prudence and reason; while others exclaim that Antigone symbolizes instinct, and Ismene represents naive obedience to authority. There are many different ways to interpret each of the response to a given situation for both Antigone and Ismene in their brother's…

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Essay on Oedipus and Antigone

In the play Antigone the characters Antigone and Ismene have personalities that are contradistinction of each other. In the time of the Greece's Golden Age of Drama, women did not have the ability to speak what was on their minds. Antigone is an outspoken person," Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (l.26). Antigone will not at all let anyone get in her way to bury her brother Polyneices, not even Creon. Antigone does not mind her words. "Oh, tell it. Tell Everyone…

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There Is A Curse On The House Of Oedipus

the stories of Oedipus Rex and Antigone more closely, he or she will find that the reason so many tragedies happened to Oedipus's family is not because of some curse, but rather because of one common thread. Each person in the line of Oedipus tries to defy authority in one way or another. Oedipus and Jocasta both defy the authority of the gods by trying to run away from a prophesy of theirs, which results in Jocasta's death and Oedipus's dethroning and downfall. Antigone defies the authority of the…

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Comparison, And Creon In Sophocles Antigone

In the Greek play Antigone, by Sophocles, there are many conflicts, heroic acts, and deaths. All of the characters’ traits add to all the events and tragedies involved within this play. Antigone, King Creon, and Ismene are all main characters in Antigone. Antigone is stubborn, bold, and is willing to stand up for the rights of her dead brother, Polynices. King Creon, although his characteristics are very similar to Antigone’s, believes that Polynices should not be buried or given any rights because…

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