ANTIGONE

A detailed Summary of ANTIGONE

In ancient Greece, men who died in war fulfilled the civic ideal to the utmost. The women, destined to live out a degrading life, died in bed. Certainly, not all men died in battle, but every epitaph shows in one way or another, the city would always remember the men who died in war. Additionally, not all Athenian women died in bed; nonetheless, it was left to her family to preserve the memory of her not the city. No matter how perfect a woman was she would never receive the same status or level of social expectations from the city that a man received. No accomplishments were allowed beyond living a life of motherhood and submissiveness to a man, namely her husband. In fact, in early Greece, women were typically viewed as subservient to men, submissive in their actions, and of a status only slightly above slaves; however, Antigone was not your typical Greek woman.

Many ancient Greek Philosophers have written and expressed their views on women's' status in ancient Greece. One author, Sophocles, wrote plays about how you cannot escape fate, because the Gods give fate and men cannot escape what the Gods decide. Sophocles shows his case in point, that human laws can destroy a city, using Antigone as a noticeable illustration t

Again, he speaks of how the women should just disappear in society not to be heard.

Sappho was a female who wrote poems indicating early women in Greece were more than mere objects to be viewed from afar. Sappho is sarcastic in her poems, as illustrated in A Wedding Toast; "We drink your health, Lucky bridegroom! Now the wedding you asked for is over" "Aphrodite has surely outdone herself in doing honor to you!" Sappho was outspoken about how women were treated. She was seemingly bitter towards the way women were viewed and treated in ancient Greece. In the poem, Prayer to My Lady of Pahos, she writes:

On the other hand, if I must say anything on the subject of female excellence to those now in widowhood, it will be all comprised in this brief exhortation. Great will be your glory in not falling short of your natural character: and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men whether for good or for bad." (Pg. 13)

In the play Antigone, Sophocles stretches the role of a woman. There is a battle between what is right and laws of Gods or laws of man. Sophocles places Antigone in this fight against her Uncle Creon. Antigone stands up for ancient law and Creon stands up for man's law. Creon voices his opinion on how he feels about women in ancient Greece. Creon states "We must defend the men who live by law, never let some woman triumph over us. Better to fall from power, if fall we must, at the hands of a man - never be rated inferior to a woman, never." (Pg. 77 - line 755-762)

Antigone speaks like a true warrior and a man, for she does what is brave not cowardly. She stands behind what she believes and is willing to carry out her convictions without a second thought or hesitation. Antigone would rather die at the hands of the city laws than defy the laws of the God. It has been stressed and proven repeatedly that the women of Greek society should be submissive, obedient, and seen, but not heard. Then we ha

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Pahos, Greece Creon, Peloponnesian War, Additionally Athenian, Republic Socrates, Greek Philosophers, Sophocles Antigone, Jocasta Antigone's, Wedding Toast, , ancient greece, typical greek woman, oedipus king, women viewed, viewed treated, typical greek, died bed, towards women, love love, women viewed treated, threatened destroyed, outspoken women,

Approximate Word count = 1316
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels