Sexism in Antigone
Sexism is a problem that plays a major role in the world even today. The female population of the world is hit the hardest with this problem, often being scammed and patronized by a handful of egotistic and greedy males. Some places in the world are worse than others, however no one place is completely free from the discrimination that plagues our society. Long ago in the time of Sophocles, sexism toward women was so common that it was accepted as the norm, even by women. Women were supposed to be petite, refined, and quiet. Anything outside of that description was considered to be an atrocity, and so women did their best to stick to the role assigned to them by the male-dominated society. Antigone, however, did the opposite, allowing Sophocles to portray his view of how women should be, which is equal to men in all ways.
Sophocles was an advanced man for his time. He portrayed, through Antigone, that women had the power to rise out of their submissive positions and become more, as if they were buds with the power to blossom into strong flowers instead of staying dormant. He wanted to show women not to hold back and recoil to the words of men. He believed that women were not powerless, and so he showed the power that one single woman possessed. In one short part of a play, Sophocles showered his audience in subtle revolutionary ideas. The death of Antigone was important to support this idea.
Although Antigone killed herself, she died with pride because she buried her brother, even after an edict from the king was given saying to let the bodies rot. “And if this hurries me to death before my time,/why, such a death is a gain. Yes, surly gain” (210) This death is very unlike her incestuous mother Jocasta or to-be mother-in-law Eurydice, who both killed themselves impulsively out of overwhelming emotions and died honor less. However, Antigone, a young, unmarried virgin, died with more honor than most men, giving the audience a long-lasting curiosity about whether Antigone’s way was the right way for women.
Women in Greece, and most other places at that time, were seen and not heard, did not do laborious work, and rarely, if ever, left the house alone. They were accompanied by a man, either their father or husband, wherever they went. They were, for the most part, fine with this because they didn’t know any other way. As seen in Ismene’s character, women were content with being submissive and obedient because, as in her very own words, “for might unfortunately is right/ and makes us bow to things like this and worse” (193) This proves that, in the culture, there were a few women at least that were content with not stirring trouble and simply rolling with the punches. Ismene symbolizes those women and their thoughts, allowing the female portion of the audience to relate to the views of one of the sisters, since most women could not relate to Antigone, although they could admire her for her bravery.
Bravery was not something most women had back then. They got married, worked in their house, went to funerals and weddings, and had children. This, unfortunately, was their ultimate roll. Antigone, however, was never married, buried her brother against Creon’s orders, and was never a mother, which she states sadly on her way to her place of death, a tomb in the mountains. “So taken, I am led away:/ a virgin still, no nuptial song, no marriage-bed,/ no children to my name” (232) Here, she talks about the roles a woman was thought to play, and how she never got to take part in any of them, making her a complete outcast to the audience. However, some audience members sympathized with their fallen hero, just as some people in the play did.
Haemon stood up for Antigone, despite his father’s beliefs that a woman could never rule a man, which could be seen through the quote, “Insolent pup! A woman’s lackey!” (224). Unlike Creon’s opinions, Haemon’s views are in favor of women. His contrasting ideas are evident in the line following Creon’s, “Lackey to nothing of which I am ashamed.” (224). Haemon’s character, when he stood up for Antigone, is possibly Sophocles’ thoughts on women. Haemon dies, however his death was very important to Creon realizing the truth about sexism and his faults.
Had Haemon not died, Creon would have remained a sexist person, because the death of Antigone would not have affected him, unless the gods became angry at him for allowing her to die, as Tiresias had predicted. Even the Leader said, “Must, King, and quickly too./ The gods, provoked, never wait to mow men down.” If Haemon had sided with his father and believed that women were below men, he would not have gone to the tomb, he would not have fought Creon, and he would not have died. If he had not died, Eurydice would not have killed herself, and Creon would not have seen the errors he made. He would not have ended his kingship by saying, “I killed her, I/ Can own no alibi:/ The guilt is wholly mine./ Take me quickly, servants,/ Take me quickly hence./ Let this nothing be forgotten.” If Haemon had not been so in love with Antigone, he would have sided with his father, who would have remained sexist and more than likely would go on to be a corrupted king.
Sexism was a vital flaw in Creon’s character. If he didn’t have it, he would never have ordered Antigone to such a strange death. He might have killed her by stoning, but that wouldn’t have killed Haemon. Because Creon had such sexism, his kingship came to an end. This, the end of his ruling, was Hades’ revenge for not burying the opposing soldiers when he should have. This showed the audience that sexism can lead to their downfall, as it led to Creon’s. Sophocles was attempting to show people that it was wrong to place women in the strict position they were in.
