The Status of Women in Antigone by Sophocles and A Dolls...

Society is burdened with inherent flaws. From the times of antiquity to the modern age, social imbalances and power struggles have perpetually existed. One such inherent flaw is the differences in social expectations that exist between men and women. Even during the drafting of the constitution, a document designed exclusively for the protection of democracy and the assertion of equality is the premise of acknowledging man and woman as social equals ignored. Even today, women still face the challenges of their predecessors who had been mired in the â€Å"cult of domesticity† for countless centuries, adhering to the traditional values that their ancestors had feigned upon them. Republican politician, Faith Whittlesey argues that even in today’s relaxed social atmosphere, â€Å"In order for a woman to be considered equal to a man, she has to do even more than a man.† This rough assessment of women’s current social status although true for most cases, is not entirely concise. The Greek tragedy Antigone offers flawless support for Whittlesey’s assertion. When Creon discovers that Antigone has defied him by brazenly ignoring his orders, he ponders, â€Å"Breaking the given laws and boasting of it. Who is the man here? She or I, if this crime goes unpunished?†(Sophocles, 95) Due to Antigone’s perseverance and adamant will, she is able to overcome the overwhelming adversity she faced defying Creon, the king of Thebes, in order to accomplish her moral duty of burying her brother Polyneices inShow MoreRelated A Comparison of Antigone and A Dolls House Essay688 Words   |  3 PagesSimilarities in  Antigone and A Dolls House    Ibsens A Dolls House has been called the first modern play. The play was considered revolutionary because it broke several molds which had endured for centuries. Incredibly, much of what was considered revolutionary first appeared in Sophocles play, Antigone - one of the first plays in existence.    In merely looking at the surface, one notices right away that both plays are significant in that they avoid the social temptation ofRead More Comparison Between the Characters of Antigone and A Doll’s House1456 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Characters of Antigone and A Doll’s House   Ã‚  Ã‚   There have always been fundamental differences between the mentalities of the male and female sexes. At one time, women were considered as a possession of the father or husband. Women were denied participation in public life, they had restricted access to education, and they werent legally allowed to own property. This oppression of women did not prevent them from fighting for, and obtaining, equal rights.   It seems that women followed the lawsRead MoreEssay about Antingone and a Dolls House: a Mens Society1358 Words   |  6 Pagesin society, while women would be doing things thought unheard of before like working a career? In ancient Greece and pre-modern Norway authors began thinking up unthinkable situations for their times. These situations were based on questions very similar to these. These ideas were thought of as scary, fictional, and even comedic for their time. Gender roles in society are virtually thematic in the two stories A Dolls House and Antigone . A Doll’s House, written by Henrik Ibsen is a story aboutRead MoreComparison of A Dolls House and Antigone1248 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom ‘The Empowered Woman’ by Sonny Carroll In my mind, Sonny Carroll’s poem perfectly represents what an empowered woman should be; firm, determined and able to stand on her own feet. The characters of Nora and Antigone, from Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ and Sophocles’ ‘Antigone’ respectively, completely fit my description of ‘the empowered woman’. As inspiring figures, they left me wondering how they maintained their identities even in their patriarchal societies. What touched my heart theRead MoreEssay on A Character Comparison: Nora Vs. Antigone1842 Words   |  8 PagesA Character Comparison: Nora Vs. Antigone In the novels A Dolls House and Antigone, Ibsen and Sophocles respectively create two lead female characters, Nora and Antigone, who confront societys expectations of women in fundamentally different ways. Nora goes against the grain of middle class society by first forging her fathers signature and then deceiving her husband, Torvald, throughout their marriage; Antigone, on the other hand, openly challenges and defies the rule of men, including herRead MoreA Character Comparison: Nora vs. Antigone Essay1922 Words   |  8 PagesWorld Literature Paper I A Character Comparison: Nora Vs. Antigone In the novels A Dolls House and Antigone, Ibsen and Sophocles respectively create two lead female characters, Nora and Antigone, who confront societys expectations of women in fundamentally different ways. Nora goes against the grain of middle class society by first forging her fathers signature and then deceiving her husband, Torvald, throughout their marriage; Antigone, on the other hand, openly challenges and defies the ruleRead MoreA Doll House by Henrik Ibsen7379 Words   |  30 PagesLiterature January 14, 2012 A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen Translated by Rolf Fjelde I. Introduction During the late nineteenth century, women were enslaved in their gender roles and certain restrictions were enforced on them by a male dominant culture. Every woman was raised believing that they had neither self-control nor self-government but that they must yield to the control of a stronger gender. John Stuart Mill wrote in his essay, â€Å"The Subjection of Women†, that women were, â€Å"wholly under the role