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Women are housewives; men are the breadwinners. Even though these ideas are not relevant today, they existed during the time of the play Antigone. In ancient Greece, women were seen as property. Men were seen as the head of the house. The roles of men and women in Sophocles Antigone show examples of gender inequality. In Sophocles play, Antigone, Ismene perpetuates gender roles, and Antigone challenges them.
First, Ismene perpetuates the gender stereotypes of the day. In the prologue, Ismene is trying to persuade Antigone, who is Esmenes sister, to think that since they are both women, they cannot fight men. They must obey Creons law. Creon ordered the people not to bury Polyneices, Antigone and Ismenes brother. Creon has sworn that no one shall bury him, no one mourns for him (Sophocles, page1). In the prologue of Antigone , Ismene says, We are only women. We cannot fight with men (Sophocles, page 2). Here, the words cannot fight with men show the audience that Ismene, a woman, is afraid of Creon, who is a man. She will not stand up against another man. Ismene perpetuates the idea of gender inequality with the words only women which implies weakness and a lack of self-esteem. In addition, Ismene is accepting of Creons misogynistic behavior towards women. Ismene tries to reason with Antigone to surrender to Creons law. For example, she states, The law is strong. We must give into the law (Sophocles, page 2). These words we must give in to show that Ismene has no strength and that her power is less than Creons who is a man. Give into, implying to give up, shows Ismenes belief that as a woman she has a boundary that she should not cross. Society will look down on her or possibly kill her.
Next, the character Antigone challenges gender stereotypes. In the prologue of Antigone, Antigone challenges Creons law. She is arguing with her sister, trying to convince Ismene to help her bury their brother. In the prologue of Sophocles’ Antigone , Antigone says, I say that this crime is holy (Sophocles, page 2). Crime is holy means that even though what she is going to do is illegal, she strongly believes that what she is doing is good. Antigone is crossing the boundary. She does not want to be seen as property and just follow what some man says. Also, Antigone says, Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way (Sophocles, page 2). Antigone is showing that she does not fear any one man, especially Creon. Not strong enough implies that Creon is no match for her. For Antigone to state this, as a woman, is a huge deal because no woman has crossed that boundary to challenge a man.
In conclusion, in Sophocles play, Antigone, Ismene perpetuates gender roles, and Antigone challenges them. These two sisters, during their argument in the Prologue of Antigone, show the gender inequality of the time. Ismene accepts her role in society as a woman, but Antigone defies the role that society says she should be. Even though todays society is no longer like this, there are still gender inequality cracks in our society like in sports, politics, and job opportunities.
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