In Sophocles' play Antigone, the two sisters, Antigone and Ismene, have opposing views on which to value more: the dead or the living. Antigone places more emphasis on her duty to honor her dead brother, Polyneices, while Ismene believes it is more important to obey the laws of the living. Their opinions remain unchanged for much of the show and this increases the tension between them. Ultimately, their brotherly bond is damaged by their unyielding views. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Antigone is strongly interested in burying Polyneices, who, because he fought against Thebes, was not given the right to a burial. Antigone's desire to bury her brother becomes an obsession that prevents her from recognizing any point of view except her own. She tries to push her sister Ismene to join her in a secret burial by asking, "Decide. Share the work, share the work (61)?" By calling the practice of burial "fatigue" and "work", Antigone reveals that she considers her brother's burial truly arduous. He accepts the job, but only because he feels it is the duty of the living to serve the dead. When Antigone tries to convince her sister to move on with her life, even though Antigone has been captured, Antigone states, “I gave myself to death, long ago, that I might serve the dead (88).” Antigone feels obligated to take care of the dead, because she considers herself their servant. Therefore, she was ready to disobey the law of the state and risk her own life, just to fulfill her duties towards Polyneices. For Antigone, burying Polyneices is the most important task she has to do. When he discovers that Ismene has a different opinion, he accuses his sister of making "excuses (63)". Ismene's reasons for refraining from burying Polyneices do not please Antigone; he thinks that Ismene is simply finding a justification to fulfill her duties towards her dead brother. Antigone's inflexibility and her contempt for her sister's point of view detract from the relationship between the two sisters. Ismene, unlike Antigone, feels an obligation towards the living. He focuses more on his role in society rather than his role towards Polyneices. Ismene tries to reason with Antigone when she states, “I, for one, will beg the dead to forgive me – I am forced, I have no choice – I must obey those in power (62) .” Ismene feels a sense of responsibility to follow the rules of life, as she currently resides in their world. However, her subservience to the living causes her to neglect the importance of honoring the dead. It is easier for her to obey the authority of the state and ask forgiveness from the dead, because the laws of the living have more effect on her present life. He assumes that the dead will be more likely to show his mercy than those who prohibited his brother's burial, so he chooses to honor his duties to the living first. In attempting to explain her decisions to Antigone, Ismene reasons: “Think what death we will have, the worst of all if we violate the laws and nullify the fixed decree of the throne, its power – we must be reasonable (62) .” Ismene knows that she will be sentenced to death if she defies the king. He fears the authority of the state and the living more than the dead, since his life is in danger. He is more afraid of the consequences of breaking mortal law than of denying the dead a burial. She considers her sister irrational, because Antigone would risk her own life to honor the dead. For this reason he does not help Antigone bury Polyneices, thus sacrificing their fraternal bond. As the show approaches the.