Through the many stories of heroic deeds that have been told over the centuries, a picture has been drawn as to the appearance and interpretation of the archetypal character of the hero. This character has been described as a masculine figure who defeats all monsters and challenges in his path through his strength, will and determination, usually having to call upon superhuman ability, whether physical or intellectual, to defeat a oppressor. However, this typical vision of the hero does not suit all characters who can still be classified under this archetype. In fact, throughout many ancient Greek plays, women took on the role of heroes, having a very different quality and approach to problem solving than their male counterparts. Two such women who demonstrate great heroic qualities through their respective plays are Antigone and Lysistrata, who are the heroines of their tales. Through the analysis and comparison of the actions of the characters Antigone and Lysistrata in the plays Antigone by Sophocles and Lysistrata by Aristophanes, respectively, clear conclusions can be drawn regarding the stature of these female protagonists as heroic female characters.Say no to plagiarism. . Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get original essayAntigone follows the Oedipus trilogy, in which Oedipus has already discovered the seeds of his sins, put out his own eyes and renounced his rule of Thebes. Jocasta, Oedipus's mother and wife, is dead and her brother Creon claims the throne as his own. After the bloody mess Oedipus leaves in his wake, his daughter Antigone must weigh the horrific consequences, including preparing for the burial of her brother Polyneices. However, in light of the conflict that arises even after Oedipus's death, the law does not allow Antigone to bury a member of her family, thus beginning her heroic quest for a dignified and humane burial for her brother: "I will do it. As for me, I "I will bury him; and if I die for that, I am content. I will rest as a dear one with the one I loved, innocent in my guilt" (Sophocles 160-162) This statement from Antigone is truly what gives the heroic character to her quest, because she only wishes to achieve what is right according to humanitarian law, and not according to the rule of the king, even if that means self-sacrifice. has a much simpler battle to fight than Antigone Rather than having to fight injustice emanating from her own family, Lysistrata faces injustice against her entire sex, in which women d. 'Athens are nothing more than meatbags for their men as they return from battle and leave and leave as they please Lysistrata sees this for what it is, the mistreatment of women through the patriarchal society in which. she lives, and she talks about it with the other woman from Athens. Lysistrata is convinced that if she and the other women unite in an anti-sex strike, then they can take control of the men in society, in an essential reversal of power. To achieve her heroic goal of improving the lives of women in Athens, she made them swear an oath to her goal: “I have nothing to do with my husband or my lover; Even when he approaches me standing and ready” (Aristophanes). Through this mantra, Lysistrata is able to rally the women of Athens to her cause as she seeks greater societal status for her gender. Even if the burial of a family member or the start of a civil movement may not seem like a heroic act. , the characters of Antigone and Lysistrata reinforce their.