MD.

Nazmul Hasan
23336093

Department of Math and Natural Science

Brac University

HUM103: Ethics and Culture

S49

Tanjila habib

09.03.2024
Literature's power ties, gender roles, and social structures are interesting because of how

patriarchy and state authority work together. Sophocles' sad play "Antigone" is a good place to

start because of how the characters interact with each other and how they both question and

support society. The way Haemon answers King Creon is used to criticise and criticise

patriarchal ideals and power in "Antigone." This study looks at gender roles, power battles, and

the conflict between personal choice and family or society norms using Max Weber's (1978)

authority and state and Louis Althusser's ideological state theories. In this way, Haemon's actions

and words show that they are both a form of personal pushback and a challenge to the male
structures that rule people's lives and society.According to the play “Antigone”,in ancient Greece

,the states were ruled by the male dominants who maintained the patriarchal norms and

compelled authority on the people living in the state.Patriarchy and state has always been

intertwined,as the patriarchal value was often being institutionalized in governmental structures.

The patriarchal value is very evident in Creon’s interaction with every character of the play

including his own son Haemon.

Patriarchy, traditionally defined as a social system in which men hold primary power and

predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of

property, is a foundational structure in many societies, both ancient and modern. The relationship

between patriarchy and the state can be elucidated through the theories of Max Weber, who

articulated the concept of authority and the state's role in legitimizing certain social orders, and

Louis Althusser, who introduced the idea of ideological state apparatuses (ISAs) as tools for

maintaining and reproducing societal norms and values, including patriarchal dominance. The

way that male control is accepted in the state is easier to understand thanks to Weber's ideas

about authority, especially his distinction between legal-rational authority, traditional authority,

and attractive authority. And Althusser's ISAs, which include things like the family, the court

system, and the school system, show even more how the state and society's goals support male

norms, making them a normal part of life. Using this theory, we can look into "Antigone," a play
that shows how patriarchy and government power work.

Sophocles' play "Antigone" is set in a patriarchal society, where men are in charge and family

and government duties are mixed. King Creon's claim that he is both the head of his family and

the boss of Thebes shows how political power and parental power can work together. He told

them not to bury Polyneices because he was worried about the safety of the state and the safety

of its people. Furthermore, it shows that men are in charge by encouraging people to follow the

rules and stifling those with different views, especially those held by women. Antigone's refusal
to follow Creon's order and her following punishment show how power and authority are

different for men and women, showing how little freedom women have in this society. As

Creon's son and Antigone's fiancé, Haemon is in a unique position to question the patriarchal

norms supported by his father. He provides a critical lens through which to look at how personal

choice, gender, and social standards interact.

Haemon's reaction to his father's paternal principles shows how they shaped him and how he

disagrees. Creon and his son Haemon discuss this.As king of Thebes, Creon wants the states'

residents to follow him. Even if it violates God's laws, Thebes' citizens must follow every

monarchy order.He acts the same way with his son.Creon was so focused on his power that he

misinterpreted Haemon's desire to please his father by showing his allegiance. Haemon failed to

please his father. Because of this, Haemon doubted his father's authority and traditional parenting

norms. He began to distrust his father's judgements and warned him of the implications if he

didn't punish Antigone for following the gods and burying her sibling. Haemon and Creon's

struggle is one of the play's most important because it shows how hard it is to preserve familial

loyalty, love, and justice in a male-dominated culture. He has several reasons to disagree with his

father's order. He believes leaders should be sensitive and adaptive and prioritise listening to the

people. He also questions if authority should be inflexible and unaffected by public opinion.

Haemon defends Antigone out of love and righteous conviction, criticising Creon's gender-based
power. It shows how rigid masculine rules may harm relationships and society.

Moreover, Haemon's willingness to defy his father—and by extension, the patriarchal and state

authority Creon represents—underscores a broader struggle for individual agency within a

system that often demands unquestioning obedience. He had a democracy spirit when he said, "It

is no city at all, owned by one man alone" (Sophocles, 2003). This is very different from Creon's

authoritarian rule. A very early attack on dictatorship and the value of group leadership is shown

by this. If you follow a system that puts fear of men above justice, kindness, and love, you will
end up in a lot of trouble.

There are men in charge of the society where the tragedy of Haemon and Antigone takes place.

This shows that social norms and individual wants can coexist. When Haemon fights with his

father, he is not only asking whether Creon's choices are moral, but he is also questioning the

rules that give him so much power. A figure of speech for the hard things people go through

when they try to stand up to repressive systems, even though doing so often costs them a lot of

money. The main idea of this play is that stiff male systems are bad, and it does this through

Haemon's story. This shows that bad things like these could be avoided if society's leaders and

administrators were more kind and understanding.

The play "Antigone" shows how hard it is to stand up to men in power by showing how

complicated the relationship is between gender roles and power. These actions by Haemon make

it clear that to fight this kind of system, one must have the guts and determination to go against

deeply ingrained social rules and standards. Both his story and Antigone's story have sad endings

that show how much it costs to be so stubborn. In modern times, the play is still important

because it shows how male impact can change other people's lives.

Therefore, Sophocles' play "Antigone" shows how sexism and the government are connected to

many problems, such as political disagreements and family problems. When Haemon says mean
things about his father, King Creon, when he doesn't agree with him, he goes against the views

and power of the men who run the family and the country. The things Haemon did and said

showed that patriarchal rules hurt people's freedom of choice, good relationships between men

and women, and society's peace as a whole. Max Weber and Louis Althusser's ideas make it very

clear how people and the government get and keep power in their own systems. And finally, but

not least, "Antigone" makes a strong case against society's systems that are based on men and in

favour of a more loving and adaptable way of doing things.

Reference

• Sophocles. (2013). Sophocles I : Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus.

Oxford University Press

• Weber, M. (1965). Politics as a vocation. Fortress Press.