Table of Contents
Is Antigone patriarchal?
Patriarchy refers to a social situation where men are dominant over women in wealth, status and power. Antigone, a Greek tragedy by Sophocles, is a classic example of patriarchy.
What role does gender play in the conflict between Antigone and Creon?
In the play Antigone, both Creon and Ismene assert and reinforce gender roles. Creon wants men to be leaders and women to be subjects. He even describes women as fields to be furrowed. She not only defies Creon with her actions but also goes on to tell him that she thinks he is wrong and she is right.
What is the role of the patriarchy?
Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. Some patriarchal societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property and title are inherited by the male lineage.
Is Antigone a feminist or anti feminist play?
Antigone can absolutely be said to be an early example of a feminist, because she possesses the qualities seen in both historic, and modern day feminists.
What role does patriarchy play in feminist theory?
The concept of patriarchy has been central to many feminist theories. It is an attempt to explain the stratification of power and privilege by gender that can be observed by many objective measures.
What are the roles of women in Antigone?
In Antigone we meet Ismene and Antigone, two different women offering alternate points of view on how women should behave. Ismene follows the proscribed path, believing that women should obey men. Antigone feels free to act according to her conscience, even if it is contrary to what men want her to do.
How did Antigone rebel against the authoritarian rule?
This authoritarian rule placed women in a subordinate role and extinguished any hopes of power. In the face of this efficiently and tightly controlled agency, Antigone rebels with what Catherine Holland describes as an “otherness” and an “anti-authoritarian” bent.
Why did Antigone give Creon extra respect?
Antigone does not give Creon additional respect based on the fact that he a man in patriarchal society or because he is king. Rather she argues that there shall be equality under God and the equality among all of the sexes. Antigone makes it clear to Ismene that she will take action relating to their brother regardless if Ismene agrees or not.
Why did Antigone refuse to bury her brother Polynices?
Antigone confronts the difficult situation of whether or not to bury her brother Polynices against the wishes of her uncle, Creon the king. Ismene believes that women, including herself and Antigone, should not and cannot disobey Creon’s orders by burying their own brother. Antigone disagrees and decides to proceed with her plan.