Ismene- She is the youngest daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. Her name in Greek means ‘to linger towards’ (eis = towards, mene = linger). She warns Antigone that trying to give their brother a proper burial would surely lead to her death and declares that she wants nothing to do with the whole idea.
What is Ismene’s tragic flaw?
Her tragic flaw is that she has hubris, which is excessive pride, and that leads her to be unbending. Ironically, Antigone means unbending in Greek. Because she is unbending, she will not denounce her decision to bury Polynices. This angers Creon, so he sentences her to death.
What is Ismene’s role in Antigone?
Blonde, full-figured, and radiantly beautiful, the laughing, talkative Ismene is the good girl of the family. She is reasonable and understands her place, bowing to Creon’s edict and attempting to dissuade Antigone from her act of rebellion. As in Sophocles’ play, she is Antigone’s foil.
What is Ismene’s argument?
Ismene’s argument at the beginning of the play is that their family has suffered enough. What’s the point of bringing more sorrow? Antigone and Ismene have had to live with the stigma Oedipus’s horrific mistakes their whole lives.
What was the curse on Oedipus?
Polynices, who had expelled his blind father from Thebes and left him to live as a beggar, has come to ask his father’s support in overthrowing his brother. Oedipus, enraged at his son’s request, stretches out his accusing arms and levies his dreadful curse, by which each son would die at the hands of the other.
Who is right Antigone or Ismene?
Contrasting Antigone and Ismene
In the most basic sense, Antigone is the more strong-willed of the two sisters, while Ismene is compliant. Antigone is willing to defy Creon’s decree at any cost, including death, while Ismene tries to persuade her sister to obey the law, and thus King Creon himself.
How is Ismene different from Antigone?
The main difference between Antigone ‘s and Ismene ‘s personalities is that Antigone is bold, independent, and according to Ismene, “fiery” (Sophocles 689), while Ismene is timid and submissive. Ismene can be considered submissive because she complied with the civil laws.
What happens to Ismene at the end of the play?
Ismene appears again at the end of the play with her sister as they mourn the death of their father and lament that they cannot join him. Theseus tells them that Oedipus has been buried but the location is secret and he has forbidden that they be told of it.
How does Ismene show loyalty in Antigone?
In this play, Antigone is strong willed and will do anything to show admiration for her brother. In the end, her heart leads her to live among her family in heaven. Ismene shows loyalty to her family by letting herself die in admiration of her family also. In the end, being loyal to the family is always foremost.
What is haemon’s personality?
Analysis. Haemon, while young, has a wealth of wisdom to share. He was a calm, well-spoken individual who tried to reason with his father, even when his fiance’s life was on the line. Though Haemon was unable to persuade his father to drop the charges against Antigone, his arguments did not fall on deaf ears.
Who is the tragic hero in Antigone?
In Sophocles’ Antigone, translated by Ian Johnston, the overall tragic hero is Creon. Creon becoming king brings new laws that are not accepted by everyone’s morals and they do not all follow the laws of the gods.
How old is Ismene in the play?
Ismene is likely between 13 and 17 years old, despite Sophocles never mentioning the age of Ismene or her sister Antigone in the play Antigone.
How did Polyneices commit treason?
city and his crown, and Polyneices, who was attacking Thebes. Both brothers, however, were killed, and their uncle Creon became king. After performing an elaborate funeral service for Eteocles, he forbade the removal of the corpse of Polyneices, condemning it to lie unburied, declaring him to have been a traitor.…
Who is Laius son?
Oedipus was the son of Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes. After having been married some time without children, his parents consulted the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi about their childlessness.
Why is Ismene significant?
As Antigone’s sister and Oedipus’ daughter, Ismene is an especially important character in the drama. Possibly Sophocles chose this unique entrance as a way of marking her as one of the members of the family, rather than just another passerby in Colonus.
What is Antigone and Ismene arguing?
The Conflict
Anyone who dares to bury Polyneices’ body will be stoned to death. Antigone tells Ismene she will bury the body at all costs and wants her help. Ismene thinks Antigone is crazy and reminds her sister of their uncle’s orders.
Is Ismene older than Antigone?
Ismene is Antigone’s younger sister. She too is a loyal sibling, but she’s more cautious than Antigone, and fears the consequences of defying their uncle Creon. Eteocles is the brother of Antigone, Ismene and Polyneices.
