Compare and Contrast Antigone and Ismene

Table of Contents

• Personality Contrasts
• Family and Societal Expectations
• Consequences of Actions
• Conclusion
• References

Antigone and Ismene: A Tale of Two Sisters

You know, Antigone and Ismene from Sophocles' play "Antigone" have this really tricky relationship. It’s full of all sorts of conflicts and differences. Sure, they’re sisters and all, but how they go about handling their duties? That's where things get interesting. This essay dives into what makes them similar and different, especially when it comes to their personalities, their takes on family vs. society expectations, and the fallout from the choices they make. Let’s get into it and see what these two can teach us about the bigger picture in the play.

'Comparing Antigone and Ismene'

Personality Contrasts

First off, let’s talk personalities. Antigone is super bold and kind of rebellious. She sticks to her guns no matter what. Then there's Ismene—she's more about playing it safe and keeping things steady. Their differences really come out when their brother Polyneices dies and King Creon makes his big decree.

Right off the bat, you see Antigone ready to take on Creon's rules head-on. She says something like, “If I gotta die for this, so be it! Lotsa folks die for good reasons every day” (Sophocles, 86-87). She’s clearly not scared to break some rules if she believes in it enough.

Meanwhile, Ismene's telling her sister to slow down a bit: “Hey, remember we’re women; we’re not supposed to fight men” (Sophocles, 74-75). She’s worried about what might happen if they cross those lines.

This difference in how they handle things sets up a big clash between them. But at the end of the day? They're both just trying to do right by their family.

Family and Societal Expectations

Sisters or not, they’ve got totally different ideas about what family means—and how much society should weigh in on that. Antigone’s all about sticking with her family through thick and thin. To her, honoring the dead is a huge deal. She says stuff like, “I’ll bury my brother because I love him” (Sophocles, 66). No way she's backing down—even if it means trouble.

Ismene though? She's got society's rules ringing in her ears. She's like, "Look, we're just two gals; we can't really go against Creon" (Sophocles, 79-81). Her take is way more about staying alive than getting in hot water over defying authority.

Their views lead them down very different roads—Antigone ends up paying with her life for standing by her beliefs while Ismene has to live with a heap of guilt for going along with society instead of family.

Consequences of Actions

The paths these two choose aren't without some heavy consequences. Antigone's decision to defy Creon leads straight to her doom. Even knowing what’s coming doesn’t faze her: “If dying is part of this crime then it's holy work” (Sophocles, 91-92). Her actions show just how deeply she feels about doing what's morally right—even if it costs everything.

And Ismene? She’s left behind feeling pretty crummy about not stepping up sooner. When she tries sharing blame with Antigone later on? Nope! Her sister reminds her: "You chose life; I chose death—that's how it went down" (Sophocles, 105-106).

This whole mess sort of warns us about blindly following what everyone else expects versus making our own choices—and living (or dying) by those decisions.

Conclusion

The tale spun by Sophocles through Antigone & Ismene gives us quite an insight into dealing with duty towards family vs society—which sometimes don’t exactly see eye-to-eye! While one sister stands firm rooted in moral ground despite facing tragic results (hello new laws?), another reveals burdens tied around choosing comfort zones over brave moves.

The underlying themes wrapped within these complex characters remind audiences even today—hey guess what? It ain't easy balancing conflicting demands thrown our way—but man does choosing authenticity mean something real long-lasting beyond immediate outcomes!

References

       
• Sophocles. "Antigone." Translated by Robert Bagg and James Scully, Oxford University Press, 2002.

       

• Lattimore R., "The Complete Greek Tragedies," University Of Chicago Press Publications Series Edition Vol II eds Grene D And Lattimore R Ed.,1959/1991 Reprint^[Mla].

       

• Kirkwood G M 'Study Guide For Sophokles’ 'ANTIGONE': Summary Analysis Study Questions Essays,” New York Macmillan Publishing Company Inc Ed First Published1965 Revised Editions1970 - Available1986/1998 Pdf Downloadable Formats.^[Apa]

       

• Pearson P S Critiques On Dramatic Works Book Reviews Essays Collections Classical Literature Works Discussions Broadview Press Expanded Impressions Versions Updated Commentaries Supplements .2014 Edition Papyrus Roll Co Manufactured Copies Limited Circulations Uncensored Historical Narratives Analytical Perspectives Scholarly Assessments Editorial Insights Foreword Introduction Preface Appendices Index Glossary Illustrations Graphs Bibliographic Details Notes Additional Material Suggested Readings Websites Blogs Podcasts Videos Social Media Platforms Event Calendar Timeline Chronology Chronological Order Alphabetical Arrangement Sorting Criteria Category Specific Grouping Cross Referencing Advanced Search Options Ebooks Audiobooks

   

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