In Antigone, by Sophocles, which revolves around themes such as bravery in the face of death, civil unrest and unwavering dedication to divine justice, it is easy to understand why the character of Ismene is often described as cowardly, docile and indecisive. However, this view of her undermines the most fundamental facet of her personality, the one that is absent in Antigone: the will to live. With this in mind, Ismene's personality is far and away one-dimensional, as she must embody certain traits in order to survive. She endured her tragic upbringing through rational thinking and optimism that others will do the same, while keeping her love for her unfortunate family intact. Although she is not fearless in the face of death, Ismene is a sympathetic character whose rationality, optimism, and loyalty should not be underestimated. Since so many people consider Ismene. When Antigone comes to ask her sister for help in burying their brother's body, Ismene refuses. Although this could be seen as an example of her cowardly and docile nature, like how the phrase "You should realize that we are only women" (61) is often interpreted, it shows that Ismene was aware of her position in Theban society. . It is common knowledge that ancient Greece was a patriarchy, in which women held little or no political power. Even beyond the fact that she and Antigone are women living in a male-dominated society, Ismene recognizes how far their family has fallen, with her and Antigone being the children of a parent killer and his wife. A reasonable person in Ismene's situation would most likely have acted the same way, because it would be far too risky to challenge Creon. Ismene was simply aware that no one would come to the aid of Oedipus' daughters in the face of "the death edict ».”