Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mrs.Hudgeons
10th grade english
30/8/17
Antigone
A womans place in Greek society was considered to be lower than mens, because
women were not allowed any position of authority, physically weak, and women to men were
wicked. Women to men were just polluted creatures. A womans place in society would always
be at the bottom.
Women were not offered any high authority positions unless married to a man. Women
cannot lead because men thought they were irrational, which means simply non logical nor
reasonable. Therefore, women would take a secondary and subservient role. For example, based
on Greek mythology, brothers Eteocles and Polynices went to war against each other. The result
was devastating and both brothers died in battle. As a result, Antigone and Ismene are without a
man or marriage, which means they cannot rule. At that moment their uncle Creon assumed
power of the throne. Defending the man rule of law, I, as next in blood have succeeded to full
power of the throne. (line 145) In order for Antigone or Ismene to receive the throne they would
need to be married to a man. Men were respected, dominate and received education, unlike
women. A woman was required to be married in order to have the same level of respect as a
man.
In the Greek culture only a man could fight, be strong, and dominant. Women, on the other
hand, were considered weak. Ismene also believes that, We are only women, we cannot fight
with men, Antigone! Women were embedded with the fear, not to contend with a man. Men
received education, and train to fight unlike a woman who was not offered anything. If a woman
were to challenge a man, she would most likely fail doing so.
Women were unreasonable, always needing a man to think. They had no say in
anything, as they are morally wrong. Creon speaks down upon women, And no woman shall
seduce us. If we must lose, lets to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we? (line #540)
Similarly, Creon also says women are polluted creatures. As the other thing, all women can do
is have their mind embraced around passion and sexual attention. Overall, women cannot get
In Ancient Greek culture, women were treated as a more subservient class because they
were embedded with the mindset to not contend with men. Women didnt simply receive an
education, the only education women would get was from educated men. Sophocles portrayed
women as a weaker class, and incapable of doing anything: such as to think rationally. However,
Antigone is portrayed as a strong woman, and having a much better way of think than power
holding men.