Sophocles Gender Roles - 551 Words

In the Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles, his plays could be read as a critique of women’s roles. We see this in negative attitudes about women in Iocaste, Creon, and Ismene. Antigone goes against those expectations of women’s roles. Creon thinks that women should always obey the men, and should a woman stand up against a man then he is weaker than the woman (209). Ismene think that there is nothing women can do except listen to men; she thinks that women have no choices of their own (213). While Iocaste thinks that women are just supposed to marry a man and not question anything that he does (45). Antigone defies the King’s edict of civil law by following God’s law and burying her brother (208). Antigone knows defying the King in this way would result in her death, but still she accepts full responsibility because she could not live with herself by putting the will of a man before God. Iocaste thinks that women cannot do anything without the permission of a man. Women have to marry into limited positions of power, because women could not possibly do it correctly on their own (45). Creon is a lot like Oedipus when they talk of women and women’s responsibilities. Creon discounts and ignores the opinions of women and will not consider what they have to say despite any truth of what they may be saying (209). Creon shows this by saying â€Å"This girl is guilty of a double insolence. Breaking the given laws and boasting of it. Who is the man here, She or I, if this crime goes unpunished?Show MoreRelatedGender Role Of Women In Antigone By Sophocles814 Words   |  4 Pagesseduce us. If we must lose, Lets lose to a man, at least. Is a woman stronger than we?† (Sophocles.II.3.539-540) says Creon, King of Thebes and uncle to the disobeying but brave Antigone in Antigone by Sophocles. A patriarchal society is a community in which male domination over women, So phocles explains the journey of Antigone in getting her brother buried and yielding against the laws of Thebes in a man dominated city. Antigone portrayed in the play is loyal and stubborn, she would do anythingRead MoreHow Modern Versions Of Medea ( Euripides ) And Antigone ( Sophocles )1246 Words   |  5 Pagestime, nevertheless concepts and ideologies present in traditional Greek theatre have become outdated. Strict gender roles were ever-present in society and a person was judged in relation to his or her compliance with these standards. Ancient Greek theatre hosts many misogynistic examples of the conformity to the gender roles of the time as well as the consequences of rebelling against the gender protocol. Women were to remain invisible, obedient and subordinate and to rebel against these restrictionsRead MoreRejecting Gender Roles In Sophocless Antigone1262 Words   |  6 PagesRejecting Gender Roles in Antigone Human nature dictates that conformity is a safer choice than expressing individuality. When placed in a situation where one must either remain silent or speak their mind and face severe consequences, there is much less risk in taking the first option. Sophocles, an Athenian tragedian from the fifth century BC, confronted this theme throughout one of his most popular works: Antigone. In the play, the title character must decide if she should honor her brother andRead MoreAntigone Role of Women1366 Words   |  6 Pagesexample a Greek woman from the classical era of the tragic play Antigone by the Greek writer, Sophocles. Antigone portray the role of women of in a Greek society by having two opposing characters, Antigone and her sister, Ismene, with two different contrasting perspectives of morality vs. law on opposite sides of the spectrum in addition having a male view of how women should and should not act . Sophocles accurately shows how much power women held, which was little to non-exist, during his lifespanRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Antigone 933 Words   |  4 Pagesworshiped. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the audience is exposed to the roles of men and women in an ancient Greece society known as Thebes. Although ancient Greece was a male-dominant society where women had as much freedom as a slave, Sophocles’ main character in the play, Antigone, is an example of a brave, strong-minded woman who goes against the limitations that were unfairly set upon women during that time to do what she believes is right. In this play, gender roles assists in the process of portrayingRead MoreUnderstanding Of Cultural And Contextual Consideration Of Antigone By Sophocles968 Words   |  4 Pagesconsideration of Antigone by Sophocles has developed. You must receive further information about the playwright, the role of women, and the symbols used in Antigone to have a full understa nding of the play. Without the knowledge provided from the interactive orals, the play would not have been understood as well as it is now. To understand the importance and meaning of Antigone, you must understand the playwright and his purpose of writing the play. In his play, Sophocles illustrates the rival claimsRead MoreThe Feminist Criticism Of Antigone Essay1703 Words   |  7 PagesStudent’s Name Tutor’s Name Course Code Date Sophocles Antigone The feminist criticism approach evaluates how sexual identity impacts the creation and perception of literary pieces of art. 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