Admiration towards Ismene

I admire Ismene the most in the play “Antigone” by Sophocles. The sacrifice which she had made when Antigone, her sister, was caught by Creon. It was because she had buried the body of Polynices which violated his edict. Creon wanted Antigone to be stoned to death in public as what he declared before. When Ismene was caught and questioned by Creon, she admitted that she was part of Antigone’s plan although she knew that her admitting would cause her to die. Her words and actions showed that she loved her sister greatly. Her action and words was so contrasting with the characteristics of hers that we knew earlier in the beginning of the play when Antigone asked her to join the burial. Ismene refused to join Antigone in disobeying the civil war made by Creon. This was because she felt that women are weak. Therefore, women should follow the man’s law without questioning them. Her attitude was greatly different from Antigone. Antigone was brave and outspoken. Ismene was afraid she would die if she joins her sister. Ismene advised Antigone not to disobey the rule. If she insisted, Ismene asked her not to spread her doing because Ismene was scared of death.

“Oh think Antigone! We who are women
Should not contend with men; we who are weak
Are ruled by the stronger, so we must obey….”
(Antigone, Line 61-63)
Besides, Ismene also depicted the gender issue which face by the women across the globe in the past as well as todays world. Women are submissive and passive. Women being outspoken are something rude and being disrespectful to others. Therefore, women are expected to listen and obey to men as men are the stronger gender.