The personalities of the two sisters; Antigone and Ismene, are as
different from one another as tempered steel is from a ball of cotton. One is
hard and resistant; the otherpliable, absorbing and soft. Antigone would have
been a strong, successful 90¹s type woman with her liberated and strong
attitude towards her femininity, while Ismene seems to be a more dependent 1950¹s
style woman. Antigone acts as a free spirit, a defiant individual, while Ismene
is content to recognize her own limitations and her inferiority of being a
woman. In the Greek tragedy ³Antigone², by Sophocles; Antigone learns that
King Creon has refused to give a proper burial for the slain Polyneices, brother
of Ismene and Antigone. Infuriated by this injustice, Antigone shares the tragic
news with Ismene. From her first response, ³No, I have heard nothing²(344).
Ismene reveals her passivity and helplessness in the light of Creon¹s decree.
Thus, from the start, Ismene is characterized as traditionally ³feminine², a
helpless woman that pays no mind to political affairs. Doubting the wisdom of
her sisters plan to break the law and bury Polyneices, Ismene argues: We who are
women should not contend with men; we who are weak are ruled by the stronger, so
that we must obey....(346) Once again Ismene¹s words clearly state her weak,
feminine character and helplessness within her own dimensions. Antigone, not
happy with her sisters response chides her sister for not participating in her
crime and for her passivity, saying, ³ Set your own life in order²(346). For
Antigone, no law could stand in the way of her strong consideration of her
brother¹s spirit, not even the punishment of an early death. Ismene is more
practical ; knowing the task is impossible, she feels the situation to be
hopeless. It is a wonder, which of the two sisters are really guilty of these
chronic charges. Of coarse, Antigone acted so quickly, and failed to take the
advice of the moderate sister, Ismene. Instead, going against Creon¹s words,
Antigone rashly goes ahead and breaks the law. Antigone is a fool, she must
learn that such defiance, even when justified, is not conductive to longevity.
Although Antigone is foolish, she is also courageous and motivated by her
morals. Proper burial of the dead was, according to the Greeks, prerequisite for
the souls entrance into a permanent home. Therefore, perhaps Ismene is also
foolish for her quick refusal to help Antigone perform the duty of Polyneices
proper burial. Ismene definitely seems hasty in her acceptance of personal
weakness. Perhaps in some way, both sisters are guilty of the same tragic sins.
Perhaps it is this rashness, more subdued in Ismene¹s case, that leads both
sisters to their own destruction. To my surprise, there is a strange twist in
both sister¹s character towards the end of the play. Antigone makes a rather
contrasting statement, ³Not for my children, had I been a mother, Not for a
husband, for his moldering body, Would i have set myself against the city As I
have done²(368) These words defy rational explanation. To judge from her
attitude towards authority and law, Antigone would probably take on any task to
preserve family dignity and human justice. In Ismene's final words, she abandons
her practical attitudes with a sudden rush of devotion towards the sister she
abandoned in time of need. ³Let me stand beside you and do honor the dead²(358).
Ismene heroically takes a stand and shares Antigone¹s crime. The two sister¹s
were crushed by the vindictive Creon, yet they were winners in spirit, in their
determination , they died together, as one. Nobility shall live in their hearts
forever.