The drama Antigone tells the narrative of one of Oedipus’ girls standing up to the jurisprudence in order to honour her brother. The narrative begins after Polyneices and Eteocles have killed each other and King Creon issues an edict prohibiting the entombment of Polyneices. In the prologue Antigone’s sister Ismene is introduced. Ismene while a minor character serves a great intent in the drama. In the gap lines of the drama a duologue is happening between Ismene and Antigone. In lines 14-29 Antigone is stating Ismene of her program to bury Polyneices even though Creon forbids it. Ismene tells her “We are merely adult females ; We can non contend with men… . We must give in to the law” . Ismene’s refusal and fright of interrupting the jurisprudence serves to stress Antigone’s obstinacy and hardheadedness.

In scene 2 when Ismene tries to take partial incrimination for the entombment of Polyneices. Antigone refuses her. This shows Antigone’s pride for her actions and her protectiveness and trueness to her household. Ismene is included to move as a foil to Antigone’s character. Where Ismene non included in the drama. the drama would non hold such a great consequence. Ismene represents the mean adult females in this Grecian society. Had her character non been introduced the reader would presume that all adult females in that society were as hardheaded and stubborn as Antigone. If Antigone would hold represented the mean adult female the subject of trueness to household would be lost.

Through out the prologue Ismene refers back to the fact that they are merely adult females and have no power against the Torahs or what is done about them. In scene 2 Creon is convinced that it was a adult male who buried Polyneices and non a adult female this serves to verify the gender functions in Grecian society. Ismene’s shy. hesitant. and loath behaviour is typical of a adult female of that society since after all they had no rights and were treated as belongings. In decision Ismene while a minor character serves the function of a foil to Antigone by stressing Antigone’s hardheaded obstinacy. She is included to demo how typical adult females in Grecian society acted and what they believed. If it weren’t for Ismene several subjects in the narrative would non look.