Sophocles" Antigone has two major characters, Antigone and Creon, who are the focal point throughout the story. Although these characters importance to the story goes without saying, minor characters such as Ismene play a vital role as well. Ismene serves as a foil to Antigone because Antigone is strong while Ismene is submissive. Many characteristics can be drawn from Ismene's limited part in Antigone but the traits that are most dominate in her are her indecisive, intimidated and submissive traits.
The Dictionary definition for indecisive is: one who finds it hard to make a clear decision, and by all means, this is one of Ismene's most dominate traits. Generally, a person may consider different possibilities when faced with a dilemma. As in Ismene's case, she must chose to side with either her sister and family values or Creon and the law. When Ismene originally decides to side with the law and then sides with Antogione after being pressured, her indecisive trait is made clear. The indecisiveness on Ismene's part is only one of the dominate traits that she possesses.
A second trait which defines Ismene's character is her submissive behavior. The instance in the story where Ismene decides to side with Antigone after siding with Creon and the law shows her willingness to submit to others as well as her change of heart. The exact instance in the story is where Ismene says " But now you face such dangers.I"m not ashamed to sail through the trouble with you, make your troubles mine "(lines 609-611) demonstrates her change of heart well. This line was a major turning point for Ismene's character in the story Antigone.
Along with Ismene's indecisive and submissive traits, comes her somewhat intimidated demeanor. One who reads this story may not help but notice that Ismene seems to feel rather intimidated, at times, throughout the story. This trait is most clearly portrayed during a conversation between Ismene and Antigone, when Ismene says:.
