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Fear, practicality and survivalism are ways in which Ismene's refusal to help Antigone bury Polyneices best can be explained in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Ismene does not favor burying her brother Polyneices since that burial is forbidden by her uncle King Creon's recent edict of non-burial. She undoubtedly is younger than her more assertive sister, Princess Antigone, who already is engaged to be married. That youth makes Ismene understandably hesitant about risky endeavors. But at the same time a surprising practicality negates her inexperience and young years.

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Q: What is a way of best explaining Ismene's refusal to help Antigone bury Polyneices in 'Antigone'?
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How does Ismene feel about Antigone?

Ismene is terrified of Antigone's boldness at wanting to give their brother, Polyneices, an honorable burial. She also desires a burial for their brother, but is too afraid of the death penalty and refuses to participate in Antigone's plans, causing Antigone to disown her in contempt. Despite her refusal to help Antigone, Ismene later willingly offers to die alongside her sister even though she didn't bury Polyneices. Thus she still is loyal to her sister despite her cowardice.


How do you compare and contrast Antigone and Creon in 'Antigone'?

Arrogant and stubborn versus generous and selfish are ways of comparing and contrasting Antigone and Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone and King Creon demonstrate arrogance in their respective interactions with royalty and with the gods. They exhibit stubbornness in their refusal to back down or seek common ground in their interactions with each other. But Antigone is generous in caring about her brother Polyneices, her family, her gods and her people. Creon thinks only of himself.


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 does Ismene's refusal reveal about herself in 'Antigone'?

That she is a young, unsure survivor who takes no risks and lacks self-confidence is what Ismene's refusal reveals about herself in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Ismene refuses to help her sister Antigone bury their brother Polyneices. Ismene's refusal reveals her lack of self-confidence and of risk taking. For example, her uncle King Creon says that god-given rights of all Thebans to below-ground burials and proper funeral rites will be honored for his supporters and denied to his opponents. Ismene takes the threat at face value and decides to accept this violation of individual rights without even trying to figure out how she mitigate the punishment or circumvent the controversy and the conflict altogether.


Why does Creon become angry with the chorus leader's suggestion as to why Polyneices' body is buried in 'Antigone'?

Because his edict violates divine law and because the chorus leader wonders whether Polyneices' burial is the work of the gods, Creon becomes angry in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Creon issues an edict that respects god-given guarantees of below-ground burials only for loyalists such as Eteocles and denies them to perceived traitors such as Polyneices. Because he moves into the realm where royal powers end and divine will prevails, Creon is filled with anger at the suggestion that the gods are having done what he is forbidding to be done. Additionally, Creon may be feeling quite defensive since he is in the wrong: the brothers fight and kill each other because Creon supports Eteocles' refusal to honor a legal, joint royal power-sharing arrangement with twin brother Polyneices.

Related questions

How does Ismene feel about Antigone?

Ismene is terrified of Antigone's boldness at wanting to give their brother, Polyneices, an honorable burial. She also desires a burial for their brother, but is too afraid of the death penalty and refuses to participate in Antigone's plans, causing Antigone to disown her in contempt. Despite her refusal to help Antigone, Ismene later willingly offers to die alongside her sister even though she didn't bury Polyneices. Thus she still is loyal to her sister despite her cowardice.


How do you compare and contrast Antigone and Creon in 'Antigone'?

Arrogant and stubborn versus generous and selfish are ways of comparing and contrasting Antigone and Creon in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone and King Creon demonstrate arrogance in their respective interactions with royalty and with the gods. They exhibit stubbornness in their refusal to back down or seek common ground in their interactions with each other. But Antigone is generous in caring about her brother Polyneices, her family, her gods and her people. Creon thinks only of himself.


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 does Ismene's refusal reveal about herself in 'Antigone'?

That she is a young, unsure survivor who takes no risks and lacks self-confidence is what Ismene's refusal reveals about herself in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Ismene refuses to help her sister Antigone bury their brother Polyneices. Ismene's refusal reveals her lack of self-confidence and of risk taking. For example, her uncle King Creon says that god-given rights of all Thebans to below-ground burials and proper funeral rites will be honored for his supporters and denied to his opponents. Ismene takes the threat at face value and decides to accept this violation of individual rights without even trying to figure out how she mitigate the punishment or circumvent the controversy and the conflict altogether.


What does the blind prophet say about Creon's refusal to bury Polyneices in 'Antigone'?

That the birds that feed on Polyneices' body pollute the altars with an oozing, smelly mess, get in the way of interpreting divine will, and anger the gods who therefore inflict a pestilence on Thebes is what the blind prophet tells Creon is the consequence of refusing to bury Polyneices in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Creon denies to the disloyal Theban dead the divinely sanctioned rights of all Thebans to below-ground burials. Consequently, the birds to be used in ritual sacrifices consume the blood and flesh of the unburied bodies of Polyneices and of the other disloyal Theban dead. Divine will cannot be ascertained because this unexpected, unwholesome diet causes human body parts to be mixed with those of birds on the altars upon which ritual sacrifices are made and read. The gods act angrily to this affront by afflicting all Thebes with a pestilence.


Why does Creon become angry with the chorus leader's suggestion as to why Polyneices' body is buried in 'Antigone'?

Because his edict violates divine law and because the chorus leader wonders whether Polyneices' burial is the work of the gods, Creon becomes angry in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Creon issues an edict that respects god-given guarantees of below-ground burials only for loyalists such as Eteocles and denies them to perceived traitors such as Polyneices. Because he moves into the realm where royal powers end and divine will prevails, Creon is filled with anger at the suggestion that the gods are having done what he is forbidding to be done. Additionally, Creon may be feeling quite defensive since he is in the wrong: the brothers fight and kill each other because Creon supports Eteocles' refusal to honor a legal, joint royal power-sharing arrangement with twin brother Polyneices.


What is Antigone's reaction to Ismene's help in 'Antigone'?

Antigone believes that Ismene is a traitor to her family becausy she doesn't want to help Antigone bury their brother Polynieces. Ismene cares more about herself thatn her brother's afterlife.


What is the main reason that Antigone and Creon cannot resolve their conflict in 'Antigone'?

Stubbornness is the reason that Antigone and Creon cannot resolve their conflict in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, stubbornness refers to a refusal to modify an opinion. This description fits Theban Princess Antigone and her uncle, King Creon. Neither one accepts contrary opinions, and in fact neither one has any interest in information contrary to the emotions and facts upon which they base their opinions.


About what does Haemon change his mind in 'Antigone'?

It is in moving from getting Antigone released to joining her that Haemon changes his mind in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Prince Haemon meets with his father King Creon. He seeks a pardon for Antigone, his first cousin and bride-to-be. But he switches to leaving and joining her on death row in the face of his father's stubborn refusal to reverse his non-burial edict and its capital punishment.


Does Antigone have a dignified superior character in 'Antigone'?

No, Antigone does not have a dignified character, but she does have a superior one, in the play "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone always is described in terms of her emotions and her hard-headedness. For example, the chorus speaks of her stubborn passion. Her sister Ismene fears her refusal to do things quietly and her insistence upon speaking honestly about what she thinks is right and wrong. Her uncle Theban King Creon characterizes her as letting her emotions run wild and acting foolishly her entire life. So Antigone definitely is more passionate than dignified in her behavior and less conciliatory than superior in her communications and expressions.


How does Creon justify his refusal to grant Polynices a proper burial?

That what one does in life carries over into death is the justification that Theban King Creon gives for refusing proper burial procedures to his own nephew Polyneices. Specifically, Creon sees Polyneices as a traitor to Thebes and therefore as no longer Theban or eligible for Theban rights. It's actually a call that Creon doesn't get to make, since a Theban's rights to proper funerals are god-given.


What is an editors refusal?

editors refusal