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Ismene has two main appearances in the play 'Antigone'. One is in the very beginning, where she wants to be in compliance with the manmade laws of her uncle, Theban King Creon. She therefore wants to leave her brother Polyneices' corpse above ground and exposed to the elements, dogs, and birds. The other main appearance is the audience with the King. In this second instance, she wants to be sentenced in the same way as her sister Antigone. She falsely claims to have helped Antigone give Polyneices' corpse its god-given rights to proper funerary rites. But Ismene is a Survivor. Given the brief glimpses of her personality, it's difficult to believe that she wants other than to live and hold her position as the daughter and relative of Theban kings; and as the descendant of Cadmus, who founded Thebes in about 2000 B.C.E.* At the end of the play, therefore, she alone is the last of the four children of Theban King Oedipus and Queen Jocasta to be alive. *Before the Christian Era.

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Q: What does Ismene want to do?
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Related questions

Why doesn't Ismene bury Polyneices?

Ismene doesn't bury Polyneices because she doesn't want to disobey the State.


What does Antigone want Ismene to do?

Bury their dead brother with her.


What is creon tragic flaw?

Why didn't Antigone want ismene to share her death


Why does Ismene want to help Antigone?

At first, Ismene doesn't want to help her sister Antigone bury their brother Polyneices. But she changes her mind once Antigone is caught in the act. Ismene wants to support her sister, even die with her, and give honor to the dead. Additionally, she says that life without the living presence of Antigone holds no charm.


Whom else does Creon want to question?

Creon also wants to question Ismene.


When was Vexillum ismene created?

Vexillum ismene was created in 2008.


Why does Ismene refuse in 'Antigone'?

Fear of the consequences is the reason for Ismene's refusal in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone asks her sister Ismene to help her break a royal edict and bury their brother Polyneices. Ismene does not want to help since an act of defiance will be met with a punitive reaction. Ismene in fact fears the consequences since the punishment is the humiliating, painful death by being pelted by stone-throwing Theban peers.


What is Ismene's conflict to bury her brother?

She doesn't want to be condemned to death by Creon by burying her dead brother.


Why won't Antigone let Ismene join her?

She wants the pride for herself. She doesn't want to share it with Ismene especially Ismene didn't help bury Polynieces. Additionally, Antigone is a care-giver. She is the only one of Oedipus' children to accompany him into exile and ease his last days. It is consistent with her character to not allow her sister to take the blame for her actions, which would result in her sister's death. It would have been different if Ismene actually had committed the act, but since she refused, Ismene deserved neither the fate nor the glory.


What is creon's motive for arresting Ismene as well?

Creon believes that Ismene was apart of the unrightful burial as well because Polyneices was just as much Ismene's brother than Antigone.


What does Antigone accuse Ismene?

Ismene wouldn't help Antigone bury the body of their brother, but when Antigone is caught she won't let Ismene take any of the blame because she was loyal to the law and not to her family.


What advice does Ismene give to Antigone in 'Antigone'?

That she must not break the law but to be secretive if she does break it is the advice given by Ismene to Antigone in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Ismene believes in respecting the laws of her uncle, King Creon. She therefore does not want to break his law of non-burial of the Theban dead by burying her brother Polyneices. When she realizes that her sister Antigone is intent upon breaking the law, Ismene then recommends that the law-breaking be carried out as secretly as possible.