Ismene Character Analysis in Antigone

Sister of Antigone. Ismene pleads with Antigone not to defy the laws of the city and not to bring more misfortune to their ill-fated family. When Creon sentences Antigone to death, Ismene first tries to share the guilt, and then pleads with Creon to change his mind and be merciful toward Antigone.

Ismene Character Timeline in Antigone

The timeline below shows where the character Ismene appears in Antigone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Oedipus's two daughters, Antigone and Ismene, discuss their grief in the palace. The outraged Antigone tells Ismene that Creon has decreed... (full context)

Angry and defiant, Antigone challenges Ismene to help her bury their brother Polynices. Ismene is frightened, both of Creon's decree and... (full context)

Antigone responds that she won't let Ismene join in the glory of burying their brother even if Ismene changes her mind. Though... (full context)

Ismene continues to plead with Antigone, but Antigone only grows angrier with her and more determined... (full context)

Ismene enters, weeping, and says that she will share Antigone's guilt, but Antigone furiously refuses to... (full context)

Ismene turns to Creon and asks him if he'd really kill his son Haemon's intended bride... (full context)

...chorus worries that Haemon may do something violent. Creon doesn't care. He decides to spare Ismene, but says that he will take Antigone into the wilderness and enclose her in a... (full context)