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Gender Roles in Ancient Greece In our present day, many believe they should be treated fairly regardless of their race, religious beliefs, or gender. When gender equity is put on the table as the main discussion we may find women to have more aggressive opinions and views rather than men. Some will suggest this Is due to the thousands of years women have been limited to certain rights that men are so freely able to obtain. Greek men are born and viewed as the superior being while women face limits on their freedom and justice. They are, however, given restrictive rules and laws that do not apply equally o their counterpart.
According to one analysis of Antigen, “women individuality were violated and hidden while they were subjugated by a man’s desire”(Karri, 2012). In Antigen, Sophocles changes the script of many before him, as he displays his mall character, Antigen, a courageous and respectful woman, who has great beliefs In the Gods. Antigen is quick to put her family before the law as she goes against the king’s order. Antigen can be looked upon as a great leader of society except there’s one problem; she is a woman which has great effects on the actions she wishes to take.
Even though Semen, Antigen’s sister, understands her decision she goes along with the king’s order to keep from disobeying the law. Antigen feels that the king, Croon, Is being unjust when he doesn’t allow her to give her brother, Policies, a proper burial. Croon becomes devastated when he finds out that it’s a woman who has publicly defied him. “There are factors, such as, catastrophes, wars, and events that have effects on the culture, history, and politics of one society. Hoverer, sometimes domestic issues can also cause great debate and reflect large concerns governing society and culture” (Rocker, 2006).
Antigen’s rebellious act upset gender roles and threaten the Greek culture. Women in the Greek Society In Ancient Greece it was very common for men to have a dominant role. Men were highly involved in politics and it was very rare to see women engage in jobs that were thought to be more suited for men. Women stayed in the home and if they worked they normally held Jobs as maids or servants. Men looked for wives who didn’t speak much but Instead kept to their cleaning, weaving, and caring for the children.
Women were forbidden to go against the beliefs of men and if they spoke out against a man then harsh consequences would follow. The Consequences Antigen Will Bare In Sophocles’, Antigen, Croon sees Antigen as a threat to his society. He hates that a woman is going against his first order as king. He makes it clear that Policies Is not to be burled but will remain on the field of battle to rot. When Antigen, a woman, buries near brother, Policies, Croon is devastated Croon tells Antigen is trying to rule over him. She is thought of as disobeying Croon and the law he has set Roth.
He wants to make an example of her and punish her for going against his law and his gender role. Croon: The Male Role Throughout the play, Antigen, Croon displays his feeling of women time after time. He doesn’t hold back his beliefs that men are dominant and should never be over powered by any woman. Croon states to Antigen, “while I live, no woman shall rule me” (Sophocles, EJB trans). Croon feels that Antigen is out of order by defying him. He hates that Antigen is breaking the law but he also hates the fact that as a woman she is going against him.
Croon Croon: The Male Role doesn’t care that his son, Hammond, has asked Antigen to marry him. Once Antigen breaks the law and confesses her beliefs to him, Croon will not approve of her as a wife for his son. He has to terminate her womanly courage and sentence her to death. Many women in the kingdom probably felt the same as Antigen but they dare not express them to a man. Semen even felt that Antigen was being treated unjustly but she remained in her woman role and would not stand with Antigen. At one point she couldn’t understand why Antigen was reacting in such an unlawful ay.
Semen Beliefs as a Woman Many readers may feel that Semen was nothing more than a coward. Some may ask how she could stand by and allow someone to disrespect her dead brother. Unfortunately, Semen beliefs and actions were those of many women in their society. It was expected of Semen, as a woman, to follow the word of man and his law. Semen is willing to defy the Gods in order to respect the laws of man. She is afraid of Croon and she allows herself to be governed by him. She is like all other women in her society who know their boundaries.
Semen kept her inner thoughts to herself. She was upset that no one else in the town would not stand and support Antigen’s decision. Semen displays her feelings of being a woman to Antigen as she says, “Nay we must remember, first, that we are born women, as who should not strive with men; next, that we are ruled of the stronger, so that we must obey in these things” (Sophocles, EJB trans). Semen beliefs are common in comparison to other women in her society but Antigen was not going to stand by and allow men to defy the Gods, even if it meant death for her. A Courageous Woman
The character, Antigen, was an interesting and dynamic role due to her personal traits. Antigen held her personal convictions tightly and her beliefs in the Gods tighter. She held her allegiance first to the gods rather than to the mortal institutions of man. Antigen was not Just a rebellious role but was much different than other docile women of her day. Despite being a woman, Antigen is not afraid of disobeying Screen’s law nor is she afraid to tell Croon how she has no respect for him. Antigen was being punished for following the Gods which were of higher statue than Screen’s law.
She stated, “l have longer to please the dead than please the living her: in the kingdom down below, I’ll lie forever. Do as you please and dishonor the laws the gods hold in honor” (Sophocles, EJB trans). She will not defy the Gods to please Croon and takes her death sentence lightly. Croon hates that Antigen won’t go against near beliefs She knows seen is being used as an example to snow other women how to not act. It takes the Gods to interrupt Screen’s death sentence to Antigen. Unfortunately, it comes too late and before Croon can release Antigen she has already taken her own life.
Thoughts of Antigen Antigen is a reminder of how women were mistreated in previous societies. Even though the play ends tragically, Antigen will never be forgotten as a woman who stood up close to her beliefs regardless if she was cast away by an authoritative male figure.