Creon’s intimate analogy and means Antigone’s become Haemon’s partner is just procreative, a passive recipient from Haemon’s sexual improves in lieu of an agent away from free have a tendency to

For the a keen outburst, he insists he “not assist [himself] feel outdone of the a lady. / Better, when it must occurs, one one / would be to overset me. / I won’t getting called weaker than simply womankind” (677-680). The newest collective noun “womankind” stresses Creon’s sex essentialism, where lady – here is their site in Creon’s worldview – is actually identified which have intrinsically and you can universally women qualities such “[weakness].” Creon’s stark admission he would-be ready to concede if Antigone were a person reveals their concern about turning command over so you’re able to a woman, that will troubled his trust in the male superiority. When Creon defends his edict with “there are other furrows for [Haemon’s] plough,” their farming analogy strips Antigone away from identity and you can features to the woman the feminine purpose of becoming an object regarding relationship since the their sole form, showing the new gendered segregation off labor normal for the old Greece. In addition, the picture of Haemon working the fresh homes illustrates this new male figure because the an enthusiastic exploiter out-of characteristics, just like the image of Antigone because ground to be tilled aligns femininity having nature and you can portrays the female contour because the an unavoidable target out-of exploitation. Creon’s viewpoints therefore frequently exemplify the sex essentialism when you look at the old Greece you to definitely aligns maleness which have popularity and you will womanliness that have subservience.

This is because gender and you may intercourse are tightly coupled inside the Creon’s mental structure you to their imposition out-of gendered perceptions on Haemon’s serves away from defiance was explained of the Miller once the “tyranny

Creon enforces their intercourse ideology so rigidly which he artificially interprets Haemon’s, Antigone’s and you can Ismene’s steps inside an enthusiastic essentialist gendered contact. Inside Peter Miller’s declare that Creon’s “tyranny has compromised the ability of Haemon to allege a personal and you will gendered identity away from bounds away from their program” (164), Creon’s “regime” surrounds not only political tips and also gendered of them. Therefore, Creon’s “tyranny” is made up just out of despotically enforcing their political decrees towards the difference from citizens’ voices, and away from coercively imposing their gender ideology – in which intercourse and you can sex is forcibly entwined – on his sufferers. ” Including, Creon spends gender-depending insults so you’re able to more and more relegate Haemon to help you feminine inferiority: earliest, Creon criticizes Haemon to be “on woman’s front side” (740), then for being “[weaker] than a female” (746), upcoming finally to be an effective “woman’s servant” (756), with each after that insult subsequent associating Haemon which have subordination and you can fatigue. So it seems ironic, due to the fact Haemon try pretending courageously in the waiting so you can his father and not wanting Creon’s subjection, hence indicating you to Creon persists inside enjoying incidents using a gender essentialist contact lens even with contradictory proof. Additionally, Creon evokes the newest gendered characteristics off rumors so you can accuse Haemon’s notice of obtaining been “poisoned” (746) by the Antigone, exactly who he accuses of being “unwell having… disease” (732). Underlying Creon’s accusation lurks the traditional relationship out-of womanliness which have spoken marketing and you may trickery, since when Creon accuses Ismene of “hiding like a beneficial viper… just who drawn myself deceased” (531-532), and that couples womanliness which have secrecy, poisoning as well as immorality. Such as animalistic files including aligns femininity which have characteristics as well as barbarity or even the lack of civilization. Thus, Creon’s therapy of Haemon, Antigone and Ismene further shows the essentialist sex notions one revision their worth judgments.

Swinging of Creon, just one profile, with the Chorus, a repeated build in several Greek tragedies, we see the Chorus discreetly reinforces gender essentialism that with gendered files one aligns femininity that have character and you can passivity, and you may manliness having conquest and you can aggression. New Chorus’ basic looks about gamble starts with an effective narration out-of “Sun’s individual shine” (99) radiant to your “the man that has are from Argos along with his armor / running now during the headlong worry as you shook his bridle free” (106-107). Right here, the new animalistic photos evaluating the brand new warrior to a horse shaking their “bridle” 100 % free associates masculinity that have forceful times and you may untamed course, because picture of sunlight partners maleness that have light and you can jesus. The new man’s “armour,” “of many guns” and you can “horse-tresses crested helms” (115-116) line-up masculinity which have competition and you may warfare, implementing ancient Greece’s gendered segregation out-of spots. Furthermore, this new Chorus’ usage of natural images stresses femininity because the comfortable and you can caring and maleness due to the fact competitive and hostile. As an example, the newest Chorus describes the fresh male warrior because “screaming shrill, / for example an enthusiastic eagle over the belongings the guy flew” (111-112). This new Chorus ergo spends simile so you’re able to liken boys to birds out-of sufferer, carrying rule more than huge extends out-of property. Conversely, this new Chorus aligns Ismene that have usually women services from psychological too-much and passivity, inside the a picture of silent despair: “She likes their sis and you may mourns, / with clouded eyebrow and you will bloodied face, / rips on her behalf lovely deal with” (40). That Chorus refers to Ismene’s deal with just like the “lovely” although frozen within the sorrow – an excellent jarring adjective you to looks from framework – shows that a man direction objectifies people fragility in many ways you to negate the feminine subject’s agencies.