There are rule followers. These are the people who always do what they’re told, whether it’s right or not. In Ancient Greece, women were considered to be worth far less the men; and the rule followers thought that was the way it was meant to be, with no thought of change. Ismene is an example of that person. Ismene is good at heart, but is very unstable and dynamic.
Ismene wants to help Antigone, just based on the fact that she loves her, but doesn’t want to meet her “doom” and become a “poor [wretch].“ Ismene recognizes the importance of family, but for her, safety comes first. As much as she loves Antigone, she obviously has other priorities. However, when Antigone gets sentenced to death, Ismene realizes how much she wanted to help her in the first place.
Ismene thinks it is “foolish” that Antigone is willing to risk her life to “bury [her] brother.” Ismene is worried for Antigone’s safety and thinks it best to follow the rules they have been given by Creon. In my opinion, Ismene fears Creon more than the gods. Later on though, Ismene discovers that her life and death do not mean anything to her without Antigone.
Ismene wants to stand up for herself and her beliefs, but she is only a “women” and she knows that she should “not fight with men.” She lives in a time when women are considered to be very inferior to men. Living in that time, Ismene accepts those beliefs; whereas her sister is more headstrong.
Terrified of meeting her “doom,” Ismene is scared to go against Creon’s law and “bury [her] brother” since she is merely a “women.” Ismene may know what’s right, but her determination to follow the rules and her fear of the consequences if she doesn’t, forces her to live a very dynamic life and be inconsistent and hesitant when making up her mind.
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