role expectation and gender

Running Head : ANTIGONE AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN

Antigone and the Role of Women

in Ancient Greece

[Your Name]

[Your College /University]

Abstract

When Sophocles wrote Antigone , his heroine defied all of the notions of a woman 's role in 5th century BC Greece . Women were given a very restricted role in that society , both in public and private life . They remained under the control of their fathers and husbands , performing household chores , having their marriages arranged and remaining silent in public affairs . Sophocles created Antigone in part to

draw attention to this restricted role by Antigone 's defiance of Creon 's s Tossing aside her traditional responsibilities , she disregards his s by burying her brother and suffering the consequences . Antigone sees herself as heroic and an example to women . Creon sees himself as a ruler who must be obeyed . Each suffers the consequences of their actions . Theirs becomes a gender battle that permeates the play and makes a powerful human interest story

Antigone and the Role of Women

in Ancient Greece

Although the role of women in ancient Greece was restricted to domestic and family activities , Sophocles chose to write a play that challenged this traditional role of women in ancient times . He created the character of Antigone who chose to defy the s of Creon , her uncle and the ruler of Thebes , when he forbade anyone to bury the body of Antigone 's brother Polyneices . Creon considered Polyneices to be a traitor who did not deserve a proper...