Antigone

A detailed Summary of Antigone

By looking at gender differences in Antigone, we can see the importance of the female role within the tragedy, which most readers don't see. This is important because the story revolves around the power struggle between the main male and female characters, Antigone and Creon. If the female roles were male, the tragic and heroic effect would be diminished.

With Antigone containing only male characters, many differences in the ruling of Thebes would occur. When King Oedipus was banished from the city of Thebes, the kingdom was left to be shared by his two sons, Polynices and Etocleos. Having four children, Oedipus' two sons along with Antigone and Ismene, this would now give Thebes four possible heirs to the throne. This factor alone would give Antigone a whole new setting and change the tone for the entire story. When Etocleos refuses to give up his kingship to Polynices, the dispute is directed between the two brothers, without Antigone and Ismene's commitment to either side. Being male would force them to take sides, which could turn the battle in a whole new direction. Antigone is loyal to both sides in the story, but as a man she could not be neutral.

The act that put Antigone to her death may have never occurred, w

Another effect of an entire male cast would have been the lack of the passionate love "Eros" discussed in the story. Family love and passion, both drive the tragedy. The Chorus portrays love as "Unconquerable. Waster of rich men, keeper of warm lights and all-night vigil." (Ode 3, Scene 3) Although Creon's first decree was "stoning to death in the public square!" (Prologue), the love shared between Antigone and Creon's son, Haimon, causes Creon to be more sympathetic. The love between Haimon and Antigone is also so intense that Haimon threatens suicide by telling Creon that if he murder's Antigone, he will kill himself. This brings out another kind of love between the father and his only son. Had Antigone been male, Creon would have lacked the concern of losing his only son and she could have been killed at once. Passionate love always overpowers family love. Creon is outraged that his son is so taken with a woman. He assumes that women are weak, second class citizens. He also believes that a man who is seduced by a woman is less that a man. Creon claims that Haimon is "A girlstruck fool!" (Scene 3, Line 125). Eros is too powerful for Creon to battle against.

ere she not female. When Antigone goes to bury her brother, Polynices, loyalty, love, and her faith in the gods drive her. Although King Creon has forbidden the covering or mourning of Polynices body due to his disloyalty against Thebes; Antigone's loyalty is directed to the gods and she disregards Creon's words. Loyalty is different between a man and a woman. While women feel loyal to their family and loved ones, men reserve their loyalty for their country and the law. At the time, honoring Polynice's death was more important than even her own life. Without the heart of a woman, Antigone most likely wouldn't have been so set

Some common words found in the essay are:
Antigone Creon, Haimon Antigone, Thebes Antigone's, Creon Haimon, Eurydice Creon's, Antigone Antigone's, Antigone Ismene's, Unconquerable Waster, , Ismene Thebes, antigone male, power struggle, scene 3, power struggle genders, male female, family love, antigone creon, main male, drive tragedy, antigone ismene, woman women,

Approximate Word count = 1225
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English