Antigone And Feminism: How Has Antigone Empowered Women - Research Paper Example

?Antigone and Feminism: How Have Antigone Empowered Women? Antigone and Feminism: How Have Antigone Empowered Women? Abstract In ancient societies, women were always termed inferior to men with no political, social or economic importance, and their main roles included bearing children, preparing meals and watching over household. However, over the years women empowerment has enabled them to gain equality with their male counterpart. Feminist movement has grown over the years and has gain popularity among international agencies, lobby groups, non-governmental organizations, women’s groups as well as politicians. These organizations nowadays relate themselves with women empowerment or feminism and regard it as one of their goals (Stromquist 1993). To understand women empowerment over time and it implications on the modern woman, this paper looks into the Greek story of the Antigone. This is one of the Three Theban Plays written by Sophocles that focus on Antigone, an admirable civil rebellious woman who stood for democracy and justice for her family by heroically defying the exploitative power of Creon, her authoritarian uncle (Sophocles, 1984). This paper will first seek to understand the development of the story then describe how Antigone displays feminism as a way of women empowerment in today’s society. Discussion Antigone is probably the first of Sophocles three Theban plays, although the dramatized events happened last. This play commences with Antigone and Ismene, Oedipus’s daughters discussing the disaster that has struck the family. Their siblings Polynices and Eteocles had murdered one another over a dispute of Thebes take-over. This resulted into Creon, their uncle, ruling the city and denied Polynices a decent burial as he brought a foreign army against Thebes. Creon added insult to Antigone by threatening to execute anybody attempting to bury Polynices and even stationed guards to watch over his body, but despite all Creon’s orders, Antigone without Ismene’s help, decided to give their brother a decent burial. Immediately, the guard on duty delivered the message to the palace that while they were asleep someone buried Polynices something that Creon did not believe and thought that the guards were bribed and vowed to execute them if they did not forward another suspect. The guard soon clears himself of the charges as he found Antigone trying to rebury his brother after his body was exhumed, which she courageously confesses to Creon. This pushed Creon to slam a death sentence on Antigone and her sister Ismene. At that time, Antigone was getting engaged to Haemon, Creon’s son, and he was asked for an opinion on the issue, which he first agreed with his father, but later opposed it due to Creon’s malice and stubbornness. This triggered Creon to curse him and threatened to kill Antigone before him. Ismene was later pardoned, but Antigone was to be killed by being walled up alive in a tomb (SparkNotes Editors 2002). Thereafter was the arrival of Tiresia, the blind prophet as an advisor to Creon. Tiresia called upon Creon to give Polynices his burial rites, and though he refused at first, he agreed reluctantly to do so as well as free Antigone from the tomb. This decision was based on the fact that Tiresia had predicted a curse upon the city in case he did not follow his advice. Polynices was buried and as this was going on, Haemon was heard wailing from Antigone’s tomb, and when Creon’s followers went over, they saw Antigone hanging from a rope, and Haemon was out of control. Haemon took a sword and threw at his father, but he missed and he decided to turn it on himself, and he died embracing Antigone’s body. Creon carried Haemon‘s body weeping against his own dictatorship, which he assumed as the cause of Haemon’s death. His misery did not end there; a guard came with news that his wife Eurydice had stabbed herself after hearing the news about the mishaps and that she had cursed him for his arrogance. Creon knelt and prayed scared that he too, might die (SparkNotes Editors 2002). The implications on women empowerment According to Sheree, Antigone is one of the first heroines in literature, who fights against a male-dominated leadership. She fights bravely to what she thinks is right than even any man who scolds her. The first demonstration of Antigone’s feminism side is the challenge on powerful male governance led by her uncle Creon with a strong army behind him. This army is usually challenged by a whole city and not by one mere woman and her timid sister. She defied Creon’s orders to give Polynices, her brother a decent burial and at the same time questioned his actions about the same. She tells him straight that she does not consider his assertions on a man’s rights to burial and cannot overrule the unwritten laws of heaven. Additionally, she tells him that, while he may think that she is being silly, perhaps he was not wise either. These words show Antigone’s feminist stand, and the fact that she almost calls Creon a fool, suggests that Antigone does not give Creon extra respect as a man or as a king. In this manner, she fights for equality of both sexes and under God. She resisted Creon’s orders openly and honestly, and moreover, she did not run from his mistakes when confronted by Creon instead she took responsibility for the crimes she committed (1999). Antigone’s drive to bury his brother Polynices could have to seek justice and a clever excuse to take her own life as she pleases. She had contemplated suicide with pleasure saying at some point that she would welcome an early death. She ironically praises the rulers though she lived an awful life full of grief and humiliation, but she led a pleasurable life to be emulated by women. She left the world with a bit of some triumph having caused Creon’s disgrace (Sophocleshall Lecture Hall). Antigone lacks respect for authority when she unkindly defied Creon’s in a feminist attitude. In the play, Antigone was told that despite her admiration to bury her brother; she should obey the orders of those in authority as well, she responded by saying that Creon’s remarks are inappropriate, and she almost called him a fool as noted earlier on. This shows how Antigone was rebellious of the government and Creon and seems to overthrow the government. She went ahead and tells Ismene that she should also show some bravery if she possessed some. Antigone was clearly ready for a battle and showed the best courage which is not so common among women at the time (Sheree 1999). Even as Antigone was dubbed a rebel, she also had more good intentions. It was and is a huge dishonor not to receive burial rites among the Greeks and also human beings. She could not stand her own brother being unburied because of the belief of the curse carried by unburied bodies. She felt that by burying him, she was relieving him of the curse and honoring herself and Polynices, and be in a position to “face him as a friend.” Moreover, she argues that God’s law in regard to burial should be followed to the latter. By doing this, Antigone gained popularity among the dead while obeying God’s commands. She might have used divine law to as an excuse to die or to hate on Creon, but she had good intentions, and she got what she wanted. Antigone challenged Creon’s authority just like a feminist should do. The following of God’s commands or country’s law is important when women are challenging something or someone. Even, if taken to a court of law, they can still defend themselves with the law (Kordas 2005). Antigone also shows a feminist mentality when she seeks support from various people, which is an important characteristic of a person who advocates for equal rights and a change in the status quo. First, she asked for publicity for her crime and even asked her sister Ismene to speak out on the same if need be. She does this to seek sympathy and support from the public. She also sought support from Chorus just before her death while telling Creon that the men were on her side, referring to Chorus. She also claimed Eteocle’s support though he was dead, and because of this, she hoped that eventually she would have Creon’s support (Sheree 1999). Antigone kept pushing for what she wanted no matter the circumstances, and this also applies to women and the need to maximize their abilities to get what they want in regard to positive changes in their lives. They should not be sited and hope for things to change, instead they should stand and fight for their rights. Lastly, Antigone cries for sympathy during the time she was being pulled to her death. This showed her strong will as a characteristic of feminist. Even Creon notices that Antigone had a strong personality after seeing Antigone bravely face her death. He told his servants that even the courageous man can retreat when they see death on the horizon. Her strong-willingness is related to what her father, Oedipus had. Chorus also notices this strong-will and referred it as her downfall. In this way, some feminist thoughts are shown which every woman should posses. Sheree (1999) explains that women need to be strong-willed to face obstacles that come their way and also to endure pain caused from both within and outside their places of comfort. Although, Antigone showed great feminist characteristics to be emulated by women, her sister Ismene was the opposite. She portrays the image that women should not disobey orders from leaders even though it tramples on people’s rights. Conclusion In summary, indicators of women empowerment in the above discussion could be faint, but it came out strongly through Antigone in Sophocles’ Antigone where she displays feminism in several ways. Antigone challenged a powerful male-endowed government when she buried her brother against Creon’s will as well as exchanged harsh words with him. When she was brought to answer to her “crimes,” she answered them willingly and openly and sought for sympathy and popularity from people during his moments of trials. The most important thing that is drawn from Antigone personality is that continued persistence, support and commitment is crucial to achieving goals or dreams. Empowerment is executed by changing persons, structures, replacing conservative institutions and environment rearrangement. Moreover, it is not instantaneous, but a process that takes time. Antigone was an example that women home-workers can move from silence to expression, from invisibility to recognition, and from segregation to an organization once they are empowered. Finally, when Antigone cried while being dragged for her death, she was hoping that Creon would support her or changes his mind on her persecution; this shows that empowerment means building hopes, aspirations and expectations. Lastly, empowerment keeps women on the right track to freedom. References Kordas, S 2005, What Greece is Really Like (For Women), http://www.greecetravel.com/kordas/forwomen.htm. Web. 18 Dec. 2012 Sheree 1999, In Reply to: Re: Antigone as a feminist posted by Christel on February 20, 1998 at Antigone and Modern Feminists Sophocles, 1984, The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus, Penguin Classics Sophocleshall Lecture Hall, Antigone as a feminist: http://mobydicks.com/lecture/Sophocleshall/messages/2436.html. Web. 18 Dec. 2012. SparkNotes Editors, 2002, “SparkNote on The Oedipus Plays.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes. Web. 18 Dec. 2012. Stromquist, N, P, 1993, "The practical and the theoretical bases for empowerment," Proceedings of a Conference of International Seminar on Women's Education and Empowerment. Hamburg: UI Read More