Antigne Vs Susan B Anthony Essay Research

Antigne Vs. Susan B Anthony Essay, Research Paper

Throughout the ages, many females have helped make changes that have helped

benefit woman. Many have been looked up to as martyrs for taking a stand in what they

believe in. Susan B. Anthony and the character Antigone from the Greek tragedy, The

Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles both were two courageous woman. During their time, they

defied the idea of women and helped them step forth and fight for equality. These two

women lived in a male dominant society, filled with sexism.

Antigone is widely thought of as a tragic hero and martyr. She was a young

princess who faced many hardships in her life. She was cursed with being the daughter

of Oedipus, the king that fulfilled his oracle of killing his father and marrying his mother

and caused a plague on Thebes. She later defies King Creon of his cruel judgment

forbidding the burial of her brother Polynieces who attempt to gain the crown from his

brother Eteocles. Antigone fights for her belief that her brother deserves a burial and

preaches the God s law. Against the pleas of her weak sister Ismene and her fianc

Haimon she stands up to the government. She seems to fit the part in light of the fact

that she is executed for doing what she feels is right. According to Hathom, she Takes

into consideration death and the reality that may be beyond death. Antigone did not

fear the authority and believed in the law of the God s.

Susan B. Anthony was a liberal Quaker and dedicated basic activist. She

opposed the use of liquor and advocated the immediate end to slavery. During the

American Civil War, she founded the Women s Loyal League to fight for liberation of the

slaves. After the end of Reconstruction she protested the violence inflicted on blacks

and was one of the few to urge full participation of blacks in the suffrage movement.

In 1851, her work for women s rights began. She concentrated on reforming New

York State laws discriminating against women. Anthony organized women all over the

state to campaign for legal reforms.

Anthony became convinced that women would not gain their rights or be effective

in promoting reforms until they had the right to vote. Nationwide suffrage became their

goal after the Civil War. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized the National

Woman Suffrage Association to work for a constitutional amendment giving the women

that right. Although the newly freed slaves were granted the vote by the 15th

Amendment women were left excluded. Anthony defiantly registered and cast a ballot in

the 1872 election and was arrested. After being tried and convicted of violating the laws

and again defied the government by refusing to pay the fine.

Anthony and Stanton published the History of Women Suffrage (Volume 4) to

help women understand that it was there time to rise up and get an equal opportunity.

Although she did not live to see her dream fulfilled, women were finally granted the right

to vote in the 19th Amendment and she is deeply owed for her efforts.

Though these two individuals may seem different, the actions they take are

similar. Both women lived in times were women could not succeed and were treated like

slaves. They defied the roles of women of their time and refused to listen to male

authority. Anthony and Antigone fought the government and were punished for their

actions and protests.

Antigone grew up in an ancient Greek society where women where treated like

slaves. During the time of the Classical Greeks women s issues was a devastating

problem. Females were not classified as citizens. They held no property and were not

allowed to leave their homes unless under guard. In the play, Antigone had to sneak out

of the house to meet up with Ismene to discuss her plan to bury her brother. Their status

was equivalent to Greek slaves, the only difference was in the name. According to the

people in ancient Greece the sole purpose of women were to cater to men. Many men

perceived women as being creatures that were created to produce children, please men

and fulfill their household duties. Men were scared of women gaining confidence to

speak out against the way they were treated and against men. In the play, Antigone

confronts Creon by burying Polynieces after he gave strict orders that no one should

bury him. When Creon found out it was Antigone that buried him, he never considered

the idea that a women would step out of her conventional role.

Sexism plays a large part in the play Antigone. It appears when Antigone and

Creon are discussing the issue of her burying, Polynieces. Creon states Who is the

man here,/She or I, if this crime goes unpunished. (II, 204) This statement shows

sexism because Creon feels his pride will be taken away by a woman if she goes

unpunished for defying Creon s word and the government. Creon makes remarks about

women in text showing that they are worth nothing.

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