Great Works at 10.20am Spring 2015

In many different cultures and societies, women have struggled to be accepted as equal to men. The stereotypes of women and men have always been a problem. In some cases there are women who are not able to do what they want because they are supposed to do what men say. However, there are some circumstances in which women do what they want without thinking about any reaction from men. A good example is the character Antigone, in the story “Sophocles”. After losing her two brothers in battle, Antigone decides to bury her brother Polyneikes who was in rebellion against his other brother. In this society, it was against the law to bury someone who is in rebellion and yet Antigone did not care about what was correct or not for society. She just wanted to give a decent funeral to her brother and she did.

Some people could think this girl was doing something wrong, not only because society didn’t allow women or men to bury a person in rebellion, but because there was a woman standing up against a society and a king to do what she felt was right. Most people in the story would say women should do what Antigone’s sister, Ismene, says: “Remember, we’re women. How can we fight men? They’re stronger. We must accept these thing and worse to come. I want the Spirit of Dead to understand this: I am not free. I most obey whoever’s in charge” (P. 750:). This clearly shows a weak woman who is willing to “obey whoever’s in charge” because she’s not strong enough to do what she wants. It’s easy to think women in this society were “Not free”, mainly because in this society they did not have any power. Women depended on men to take any decision, and thus embracing what society demanded from them. However, Antigone is a woman who would not do what society says everybody should. She will act on her own desires.

Antigone is a woman who is prepared to bury her brother at any cost. She says “I am going to bury my brother- your brother! – With or without your help. I won’t betray him” (p. 749). This shows how Antigone has decided to bury her brother with or without her sister’s help. When she says “I won’t betray him” it suggests she’s the kind of woman who is loyal to her brother. In addition, Antigone says “I’ll do what’s honorable and then I’ll die” (p.750). Antigone knows that her actions may cost her life, but she was not scared because she is doing what she thinks is the right thing to do. Also, Antigone says “I deny that your edicts – since you, a mere man, impose them – have the force to trample on the Gods’ unwritten and infallible law” (p.759). This is important because it illustrates how Antigone acts according to her belief in God’s law, regardless of what men say is the law. This is why she sees burying her brother as something good because that is what family should do with their members. Moreover, Antigone says “you made your choice to live. I chose to die” (p.761). She “chose to die” because according to God’s law bury her brother is what is correct and she rather do that and die than be against what she believes right and live.

Antigone suggests that women should be able to fight for their desires. All women must do what they have to do in order to achieve their wishes, and men should not stop them. Women should be able to do, act and work for their needs and goals not worrying about what a man could do against them. Women and men should have the same rights. Nobody says it is going to be easy or simple to get what women want in a world that is led by men. There is a price, and even if it may be death, women should keep fighting for their rights. Antigone illustrates the way women are strong and capable of achieving what they want.

 

Anyel Rijo