Question

Antigone and Ismene heard with horror what Creon had decided. To Ismene, shocking as it was, overwhelming her with anguish for the pitiful dead body and the lonely, homeless soul, it seemed, nevertheless, that nothing could be done except to acquiesce. She and Antigone were utterly alone. All Thebes was exulting that the man who had brought war upon them should be thus terribly punished. "We are women," she told her sister. "We must obey. We have no strength to defy the State." "Choose your own part," Antigone said. "I go to bury the brother I love." "You are not strong enough," Ismene cried. "Why, then when my strength fails," Antigone answered, "I will give up." She left her sister; Ismene dared not follow her.
–“The Royal House of Thebes,”
Edith Hamilton

How does the character of Ismene contrast with Antigone’s archetype?

Ismene represents a coward in comparison to Antigone’s heroine.
Ismene shows true leadership compared to Antigone’s cowardice.
Ismene shows quiet confidence, which is the opposite of Antigone’s leadership.
Ismene displays the physical strength of a warrior that Antigone does not have.

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is Ismene represents a coward in comparison to Antigone’s heroine.

Explanation:

Antigone is a character from Greek mythology, inspiration for many plays, books, operas, paintings. She lived in Thebes, Greek city-state, during civil war. Her two brothers, Polynices and Eteocles, fought for the throne on the opposite sides. Since both brothers died in a fight, new ruler of the Thebes, Creon, decided that Eteocles will be declared a hero and buried with all honors while Polynices was declared a traitor of his homeland and was not allowed to be buried. For the ancient Greeks, funeral was very important, it was believed that if not buried, one can not reach the afterlife and spends eternity in Hades (Hell). Antigone couldn't let her own brother be left unburied and devoured by wild animals and she decided to give him proper burial, although it was against the Creon's law and she could be sentenced to death. She showed bravery deciding that her love for brother was greater than fear of sentence, while Ismene, being also Polynices's sister, showed completely opposite actions.