At the beginning of “Antigone,” the author reveals that Antigone and her sister, Ismene, are very different. The two sisters have different personalities, tone of dialogue, and motives. They also view the situation that they are in differently. Although they are sisters, Antigone and Ismene are very different.

Antigone has a very strong personality. She is a very loving, brave and determined person. She is brave because she wants to bury her brother, Polyneices, even though she knows she might be killed for it. She says this in the quote “But I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy.” (55-56) Antigone doesn’t let the fear of death get in her way. She is also a very loving person because she cares a lot about her brother. Antigone loves her brother and cares about his spirit in the afterlife. She cares about burying her brother more than her own protection. Antigone is also very determined because she won’t take “no” for an answer. Antigone has several tones in her dialogue in the beginning of the story. She has an accusatory tone at one point, because she is blaming Ismene for not wanting to bury Polyneices. Antigone’s tone is also very strong. She says, “I am not afraid of the danger. If it means death, it won’t be the worst of deaths, death without honor.” (80-81) She thinks what she is doing is right, and that no one, not even Creon, will be able to stop her. Antigone’s third tone is determined. She has set her mind to giving Polyneices a proper burial, and she thinks that she cannot be stopped. She is going to do everything in her power to bury her beloved brother. Antigone values a lot in the story. She values her loyalty to Polyneices because it is the whole reason she is burying him. She feels that staying loyal to her brother is very important. Antigone also values family. She wants her and Ismene to work as a family and bury Polyneices. She even becomes angry and first when Ismene doesn’t want to go. She says, “And now you can prove what you are, a true sister, or a traitor to the family.” (26-27) A third thing that Antigone values is the obligation to bury the dead. She wants to take care of her brother and make sure that his spirit makes it to the afterlife. Antigone is a very strong character. She is strong willed and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she cares about.

Ismene is a more timid character. She has a cowardly personality. She wants to look after herself more than anyone else, which is why she doesn’t want to bury Polyneices. She thinks it will be impossible to bury Polyneices without getting caught, and she makes excuses to not help. She says. “Impossible things shouldn’t be tried at all.” (76) Ismene also has a scared personality. She is afraid of losing her life if she helps Antigone. Ismene’s third personality is sad. She is very depressed because both of her brothers died in the same battle. She is very depressed and sad over the loss of her brothers. Ismene has many tones at the beginning of the story. Her first tone is helpless. She is afraid of Creon and his law. She doesn’t think that she can make a difference in any way because she is a woman. She says, “And do what he has forbidden! We are only women; we cannot fight with men, Antigone!” (46-47) Ismene’s second tone is scared. She is afraid of risking her life to bury Polyneices. She doesn’t want to risk her life to help her brother. She is afraid of punishment of the law and getting killed. Ismene’s third tone is sad. She is very sad that her brothers died and she is sad that Antigone might die too. Ismene values many different things than Antigone. Firstly, she values the law. She doesn’t even want to think about disobeying the law and going against Creon. Ismene also values Antigone. She doesn’t want her risking her life and getting herself killed. She expresses her love for Antigone when she says, “Antigone, I am so afraid for you!” (66) Ismene’s third value is her own life. She doesn’t want to risk hurting or killing herself so she doesn’t help Antigone with the burial. Ismene is a timid and cowardly person.

Ismene is a very different person compared to Antigone. She doesn’t want to hurt herself, while Antigone wants to risk her life to help her family. Antigone isn’t afraid of the law or death, while it terrifies Ismene. It is hard to believe that they are sisters because of their very different views and personalities.