In Antigone, Sophocles introduces us to the first great feminist hero, Antigone. She is outspoken against a man, the King.

In terms of psychoanalysis, Antigone follows the gods laws (superego) and not the need for revenge (id), thereby exposing Creon's self-serving behavior. In terms of Marxist theory, Antigone is a hero to the proles because refuses to marry the prince and live a life of luxury. Not only that, but she chooses to defy martial law and bury her brother, knowing that she would receive the death penalty. Her existential predicament, though, is whether or not to commit suicide. Rather than have her fate determined for her, she determines her own Hmmm. Well, Sophocles clearly created a strong woman in the form of Antigone. She knows her mind and she's willing to speak it. She has a strong moral compass, and it's not just words for her. She is willing to stand up to authority (in this case her uncle and king) in the name of justice. On the other side, she is stubborn and strongwilled. She is dismissive of anything or anyone who doesn't think as she does. She's convinced she's right and is unwilling to consider any other options. Looking at all of this, I'm not sure this is particularly exclusive either to a feminist or even women in general. Sophocles could not have been making a statement directly toward modern feminism; however, he does seem to say that women are capable of moral conviction and thinking and reasoning and action, qualities which a male-dominated society hasn't always wanted to attribute to its women.

Essentially, feminism is projected by the mere fact that Antigone stands up to Creon. The society was paternalistic, to say the least. Women had few rights: whom the would marry, denial of property, no money of their own. Moreover, to go against the orders of a king was a death sentence for man or woman. Robert Fagles argues that Antigone is her own person to the very end. "She will not yield a point or given an inch," Fagles says. "She will not yield a point of give an inch: "she hasn't learned," says the chorus, "to bend before adversity" and she never does. Those who oppose her will are met with contempt and defiance." Antigone's "feminism" stands in stark contrast to that of her sister, Ismene, and Euricyde, the queen, who constantly bend their wills to that of Creon and men in general.