In Sophocles' "Antigone," Ismene initially refuses to help her sister because she is afraid of defying King Creon’s edict against burying their brother, Polynices. She prioritizes her own safety and adheres to societal norms, believing that women should not challenge male authority. Ismene's cautious nature contrasts sharply with Antigone's bold defiance, highlighting themes of loyalty, gender roles, and moral duty. Ultimately, her reluctance to act results in a profound sense of guilt and regret later in the play.
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.
Help her bury their brother is what Antigone asks her sister to do in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone asks her sister, Princess Ismene, to help bury their brother Polyneices. With Ismene, Antigone can give her brother the below ground burial to which he is entitled. Without her, Antigone can give no more than a partial burial under a layer of dust.
No, Ismene doesn't help her sister Antigone. In the beginning of the play 'Antigone', she refuses to help her sister bury their brother Polyneices. He's considered a disloyal, dead Theban for having sided with the Argive invaders against his twin brother, Eteocles. Ismene's uncle, Theban King Creon, approves Eteocles' burial, but denies the same god-given right to Polyneices. Ismene refuses to go against the sovereign. Later, Antigone is arrested while burying Polyneices a second time. Ismene says that she supports her sister, and if need be offers to die with Antigone. But it's questionable how helpful Ismene is at that point. For she ends up saving her own life, and not stopping or mitigating her sister's sentence to a cruel death.
No, Ismene admits fear, practicality and youth instead of fear when she turns her back on her sister 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. She is practical in her fear since the crime carries the death sentence. Additionally, she shows her youth since Antigone as a young engaged woman must be older than Ismene who is single and unspoken for.
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.
Ismene, her sister
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.
Help her bury their brother is what Antigone asks her sister to do in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone asks her sister, Princess Ismene, to help bury their brother Polyneices. With Ismene, Antigone can give her brother the below ground burial to which he is entitled. Without her, Antigone can give no more than a partial burial under a layer of dust.
No, Ismene doesn't help her sister Antigone. In the beginning of the play 'Antigone', she refuses to help her sister bury their brother Polyneices. He's considered a disloyal, dead Theban for having sided with the Argive invaders against his twin brother, Eteocles. Ismene's uncle, Theban King Creon, approves Eteocles' burial, but denies the same god-given right to Polyneices. Ismene refuses to go against the sovereign. Later, Antigone is arrested while burying Polyneices a second time. Ismene says that she supports her sister, and if need be offers to die with Antigone. But it's questionable how helpful Ismene is at that point. For she ends up saving her own life, and not stopping or mitigating her sister's sentence to a cruel death.
No, Ismene admits fear, practicality and youth instead of fear when she turns her back on her sister 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. She is practical in her fear since the crime carries the death sentence. Additionally, she shows her youth since Antigone as a young engaged woman must be older than Ismene who is single and unspoken for.
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.
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.
Ismene refuses to help Antigone bury the body in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Ismene is the younger sister of Princess Antigone and of twin brothers Eteocles and Polyneices. Eteocles and Polyneices kill each other, and Eteocles receives a below-ground burial and proper funeral rites, both of which are denied to Polyneices. Antigone wants to bury Polyneices and will have to do so alone since Ismene refuses to help.
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.
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.
That it is not based on truth is Antigone's motive for refusing Ismene's help in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone has to bury her brother Polyneices on her own. She makes no effort to hide what she is doing. She therefore manages to get captured and brought before her uncle King Creon for interrogation and sentencing. She rejects her sister Ismene's false confession of guilt as too late, too little and untrue.
Help her bury their brother is what Antigone wants Ismene to do in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Polyneices' body is denied its divinely guaranteed right to below-ground burial and funeral rites. Princess Antigone, Polyneices' younger sister, decides that she will brave the royal edict of non-burial of the disloyal dead in the recent civil war over the royal succession. She asks for help from her sister Ismene in the hopes of giving Polyneices a below-ground burial. Without Ismene's help, she will have to give Polyneices a partial burial, whereby the body is left above ground but covered completely with a layer of dust.