Foil

Character Role Analysis

Antigone to Oedipus

Antigone definitely has a lot of similarities to her father Oedipus. The Chorus even directly points this out. Just like Oedipus she is obstinate, proud, and endlessly determined. Also, like Oedipus she has the ability to make quick and decisive decisions.

Unfortunately she is also similar to her father in that these seemingly positive traits lead to her ultimate destruction. Just like Oedipus, her choices bring about her downfall.

(But unlike Oedipus, she doesn't have sex with her mom. Had to put that out there.)

Though they're similar, the two characters are also foils. They differ on a crucial point. While Oedipus shows disdain for prophecy, his daughter shows great devotion to the will of the gods. Perhaps she learned this from watching his downfall.

Of course, this lesson doesn't seem to do her any good. It is her unrelenting devotion to the laws of the gods which causes her death. It is ironic that Oedipus and his daughter go down, for what could be seen as the exact opposite reasons.

Antigone to Creon

Antigone and Creon are vastly different characters. The conflict between the two becomes symbolic of female vs. male, family vs. government, and gods vs. man. This is all discussed in their "Character Analyses." The only thing that seems to be similar about the two characters is their stubbornness.

When two such determined people collide there's bound to be tragedy... unless it's a rom-com, in which case they'd fall in love. (Antigone ain't a rom-com.)

Antigone to Ismene

In a sense, Antigone and Ismene are foils. While Antigone demonstrates power and control over her own fate, Ismene shows weakness and the inability to take her life into her own hands. Ismene, unlike her sister, constantly gives in to the stronger wills around her. Grow a backbone, Is.