Creon’s sexual analogy as well as means that Antigone’s become Haemon’s girlfriend simply procreative, a passive recipient out-of Haemon’s intimate enhances in the place of a realtor out-of 100 % free commonly
Inside an enthusiastic outburst, he insists which he “not let [himself] become outdone because of the a woman. / Best, when it must occurs, that one / is to 
overset me. / I will not getting called weaker than simply womankind” (677-680). The fresh new collective noun “womankind” stresses Creon’s intercourse essentialism, where females – inside the Creon’s worldview – is identified that have intrinsically and you can widely feminine characteristics including “[weakness].” Creon’s stark entry that he could be ready to concede if Antigone was indeed one reveals his anxiety about turning control of in order to a lady, that will upset his belief from inside the male excellence. When Creon defends their edict that have “there are more furrows getting [Haemon’s] plough,” their agricultural analogy strips Antigone off character and you will qualities so you can the woman the female aim of becoming an item of marriage since the the woman sole mode, highlighting the fresh gendered segregation regarding work normal when you look at the old Greece. Furthermore, the picture off Haemon doing work the latest property portrays brand new masculine profile while the an enthusiastic exploiter of characteristics, once the image of Antigone because floor as tilled aligns femininity that have character and you can depicts the female profile because the an unavoidable target off exploitation. Creon’s views hence apparently exemplify the latest intercourse essentialism during the ancient Greece you to definitely aligns maleness having popularity and you may femininity with subservience.
This is because intercourse and you can sex are very firmly combined when you look at the Creon’s mental framework one to his imposition from gendered interpretations towards the Haemon’s serves out-of defiance is actually described of the Miller as the “tyranny
Creon enforces his intercourse ideology thus rigidly that he forcibly interprets Haemon’s, Antigone’s and you will Ismene’s steps within a keen essentialist gendered lens. During the Peter Miller’s declare that Creon’s “tyranny have undermined the skill of Haemon to claim a personal and gendered term away from bounds from his regimen” (164), Creon’s “regime” border not just governmental procedures plus gendered of those. As a result, Creon’s “tyranny” is made up not just of despotically implementing his political decrees on the exclusion from citizens’ voices, and off coercively imposing his intercourse ideology – in which sex and you will intercourse is artificially entwined – abreast of their sufferers. ” Eg, Creon uses intercourse-established insults so you can progressively relegate Haemon so you’re able to women inferiority: very first, Creon criticizes Haemon for being “to the woman’s front side” (740), following to be “[weaker] than a female” (746), up coming in the long run for being a beneficial “woman’s slave” (756), with every after that insult then associating Haemon having subordination and you may tiredness. This looks ironic, as Haemon was acting bravely for the standing up so you’re able to their dad and you may refusing Creon’s subjection, thus suggesting that Creon persists in the enjoying events using an intercourse essentialist contact despite contradictory proof. Additionally, Creon evokes brand new gendered characteristics regarding rumors so you can accuse Haemon’s head of obtaining become “poisoned” (746) of the Antigone, whom the guy accuses of being “ill which have… disease” (732). Root Creon’s accusation lurks the traditional association off femininity which have spoken marketing and trickery, due to the fact when Creon accuses Ismene regarding “hiding such as a good viper… just who sucked me inactive” (531-532), and that associates femininity which have privacy, toxicity as well as immorality. Like animalistic images and aligns womanliness having characteristics plus barbarity or even the lack of civilization. Thus, Creon’s therapy of Haemon, Antigone and you will Ismene subsequent suggests the fresh essentialist intercourse notions one to modify his well worth judgments.
Swinging of Creon, a single profile, on Chorus, a recurring build in lot of Greek tragedies, we see the Chorus discreetly reinforces sex essentialism by using gendered files one to aligns femininity with characteristics and you can passivity, and you will masculinity with conquest and hostility. Brand new Chorus’ very first appearance in the play starts with a good narration from “Sun’s individual shine” (99) shining with the “the person who had come from Argos along with their armor / running today for the headlong fear as you shook his bridle 100 % free” (106-107). Right here, the fresh new animalistic artwork comparing the new warrior to help you a pony trembling their “bridle” 100 % free associates maleness with forceful time and you will wild way, as the picture of sunrays couples maleness having white and you may jesus. New man’s “armour,” “many firearms” and you will “horse-locks crested helms” (115-116) line-up manliness which have race and warfare, enforcing old Greece’s gendered segregation out of opportunities. Furthermore, the fresh Chorus’ access to pure files stresses womanliness since comfortable and you will nurturing and maleness once the aggressive and you may intense. As an example, brand new Chorus means brand new male warrior given that “screaming shrill, / for example an enthusiastic eagle over the property the guy flew” (111-112). This new Chorus thus uses simile to liken boys to help you birds off prey, carrying dominion over vast expands of home. On the other hand, this new Chorus aligns Ismene which have typically feminine qualities out of psychological continuously and you may passivity, for the a picture of hushed suffering: “She likes the girl cousin and you will mourns, / having clouded eyebrow and you can bloodied cheeks, / rips on her lovely deal with” (40). That Chorus makes reference to Ismene’s face given that “lovely” in the event frozen for the sadness – an excellent jarring adjective that seems of perspective – suggests that the male position objectifies lady fragility with techniques that negate the female subject’s institution.