Representation of women in Antigone Although ancient Greece was a male-dominated society, Sophocles' work Antigone depicts women as strong and capable of making wise decisions. In this famous tragedy, Sophocles uses the characters of Ismene and Antigone to show the different characteristics and roles that women typically perform. Traditionally, women are characterized as weak and subordinate and Ismene is portrayed in this way. Thanks to the character of Antigone, women can finally present realistic views on their character. The gender stereotypes presented in this tragedy address many points of view of men during this time. Creon, the arrogant and tyrannical leader, is the very character who exemplifies this point of view. Antigone's spirit is filled with courage, passion and fury; which allow it to symbolize the very essence of woman. She is strong enough to do what her conscience tells her despite the laws of the land. Many examples in the play prove that the character Antigone is very capable of making her own decisions in the name of justice. First, Antigone opposes Creon's law and buries her murdered brother; because in his mind, it was immoral not to do so. She does this because she is compassionate and loves her brother very much. Creon, however, believes that his laws must be respected and would do anything to prevent any type of rebellion. He is even more furious when he learns that a woman has broken his laws. He attempts to show Antigone who is in charge by sentencing her to life in prison. Second, Antigone shows her determination by accepting the consequences with pride. She does not try to hide that she is responsible for the violation of Creon's laws, and moreover, she takes all the credit for it. All the while, she maintains her strength because she truly believes in her actions. These kinds of actions ultimately prove that Antigone is courageous and willing to stand up to men, which was completely against the norm at that time. Her mind refuses to submit to the role of a helpless woman as does the character of her sister Ismene. Ismene is a coward and refuses to help her sister because she was afraid of men. This fear causes her to turn her head towards disrespect towards her brother Polyneices. Her character is an accurate representation of the male gender's views regarding women. She is subordinate and weak. She refuses to stand up to Creon even though deep down she knows that his laws are morally bad..