What is Ismene's quote in 'Antigone'?

Answer 1

In her first appearance, Ismene tells her sister Antigone that she has no idea what is being done or said since the sorrowful news of the deaths of their brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices. She says that it's clear that Antigone has the advantage in knowing of further bad news.

So Ismene refuses to help Antigone bury their brother Polyneices since to do so is against the recent law of their uncle, Theban King Creon. She reasons that their parents, Theban King Oedipus and Theban Queen Jocasta, unknowingly broke the laws of the gods and of mortals. Their fate was brutal. So her fate and that of her sister are sure to be even more humiliating and miserable. She makes clear that her role in life is not to go against the traditions of men as dominant and women as dominated. She cautions Antigone to proceed carefully and quietly in any civil disobedience. She indicates that her affection is unwavering despite her sister's foolish, hopeless decisions.

Antigone subsequently goes through with a partial burial of Polyneices. She gets caught, arrested, and brought before her uncle. Ismene tries to support her sister by claiming to have helped out in the illegal act. She reveals a lack of shame in regard to Antigone's civil disobedience and a willingness to share Antigone's capital punishment. Once she realizes that she can't get through to her sister, Ismene makes a futile attempt to get Creon not to sentence Antigone to death. She indicates that the unhappy often aren't logical or rational in their thoughts. She goes so far as to remind Creon of the great love between his son Haemon and his niece Antigone.

But Ismene is dealing with two passionate, proud individuals. Her manner and her speech are respectful. But neither her sister nor her uncle wants to hear anything of reconciliation. Antigone is as committed to dying for a cause as her uncle is to punishing those who dare to walk an independent talk.