Characteristics of a Woman
Women were known to be creatures that are obedient, inferior, and passive, basically they were submissive. Nowadays, in this generation women are independent, more outspoken, rebellious, and sometimes aggressive. Antigone contains the characteristics of the later. She is a well driven, family oriented person, who is not afraid to speak out about something that she does not agree with it nor does she have any fear in opposing something she does not believe is right. This is evident when she said “he’s got no right to keep me from what’s mine.” In which she was speaking about Kreon basically keeping her brother away from her. She goes after what she wants and does not let anyone stand in her way or dissuade her from what she is after.
Antigone is family oriented because even though her brother, Polyneikes is dead she still remains loyal to him by wanting to give him a proper burial. She is rebellious by defying the authority figure over her, the King of Thebes. Antigone broke the law by burying her brother, even though she knew the consequences that would befall her by breaking the law. She went ahead unmoved by all the threats that were made to her for doing such a thing. She is also independent. She does not need anyone to help her to achieve the task she is aiming to achieve. This is evident when she asked he sister, Ismene to help her bury their brother and Ismene refused because she was afraid of Kreon and his rules. Antigone did not let this affect her; she continued on her way and went to attempt to give her brother a proper burial.
Antigone is a strong independent female who stands up for what she believes in and allows nothing to get in her way. She is a person who does what she sees is right in her eyes and also what the noble thing to do is. If most women followed in her footsteps and contain the characteristics of what a woman is, then women nowadays in this generation would be a set of beautiful, independent, strong, and active women. I personally think that Antigone is a wonderful role model for women who wants to be outspoken. As a woman, independent, brave, bold, outspoken, and not easily persuaded are all qualities that any woman would be loved to be described as and this can be achieved if more women follow Antigone’s footstep of being bold and standing up for what she believes in.
Shauna Fearon
One response so far
I agree with you Fearon, she is a very inspirational woman who is a fighter and does not let anyone defies her. She is risking everything by going against the king and burying her brother. Personally I don’t think a man in her position would have had the guts to do what she did, that is she goes against Creon the king. In this story she is portrayed more like a man that a woman. We get a good idea of what a woman is suppose to be like by how Ismeni acts. Second after burying her brother she does not tire to deny the fact that she did it, but tells the truth even though she knows that there will be dire consequences. She accepts her punishment and still maintains a strong will because she believes in her actions and that what she did was right. What makes her situation even worse is that Ceron does not believe that women are capable of rational decision and he sees them as being way less than men. Throughout this play she shows Creon that women are as capable as men if not more and that women are able to make smart decisions.