Significance of the Women in Sophocles Antigone Essay

Significance of the Women in Antigone Michael J. O’Brien in the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, maintains that there is â€Å"a good deal of evidence to support this view† that the fifth century playwright was the â€Å"educator of his people† and a â€Å"teacher† (4). Sophocles in his tragedy Antigone teaches about â€Å"morally desirable attitudes and behavior,† (4) and uses a woman as heroine and another woman in a supporting role to do most of the instructing of the audience in this regard. This essay will explore the role of women in the drama, the attitude toward women therein, the involvement of women in plot development, and other aspects of women in Antigone. In the essay, â€Å"Sophocles’†¦show more content†¦Watling comments on Sophocles’ heroine in Antigone and how it comes about that she defies Creon’s decree against burial of Polynices: â€Å"A woman, for whom political expediency takes second place, by a long way, to compassion and piety, has defied the order and is condemned to death† (13). Thus it is seen that Antigone has been given an exalted status in the drama by Sophocles, superior to King Creon who is motivated merely by â€Å"political expediency.† The audience is fully aware that the gods are on the side of Antigone even as the play begins due to the tradition of dramatic irony in Sophocles’ plays: Thomas Woodard in the Introduction to Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays states: â€Å"Tradition pays homage to â€Å"Sophoclean irony† (a rival of â€Å"Socratic irony†), which implies a twofold dramatic situation, known to be twofold by the audience in spite of the fatal delusion of a character. . . . â€Å"(7). Creon is deluded, but the audience knows the full story of Antigone’s proper attitude of piety and humility in her relationship with the gods. Consequently, in the estimation of the audience, Antigone is on a pedestal from the outset of the tragedy. The drama begins with Antigone inviting her sister, Ismene, outside the palace doors to tell her privately: â€Å"What, hath not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honoured burial, the other to unburied shame?† Antigone’s offer to Ismene (â€Å"Wilt thou aid this hand to lift the dead?) is quickly rejected, so that AntigoneShow MoreRelatedAntigone: a Study of Moral Influences in Society.899 Words   |  4 Pagesthe significance of women in many religious groups. In literature we witness the same fear, reading between the lines at how the author created a character and the reaction of the public to her. 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