Through the numerous tales of heroic deeds told over the centuries, a picture has been painted of the appearance and interpretation of the archetypal character of the hero. This character has been portrayed as a male figure who conquers all monsters and challenges in his path through strength, will, and determination, usually having to call upon superhuman ability, both physical and intellectual, to defeat an oppressor . However, this typical vision of the hero does not fit all characters who can still be classified under this archetype. Indeed, throughout many ancient Greek plays, women took on the roles of the hero, having a very different quality and approach to problem solving than their male counterparts. Two of these women who display great heroic qualities through their respective works are Antigone and Lysistrata, who serve as the heroines of their tales. Through analyzing and comparing the actions of the characters of Antigone and Lysistrata in Sophocles' plays Antigone and Aristophanes' Lysistrata respectively, clear conclusions can be drawn about the stature of these female protagonists as heroic female characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Antigone follows the Oedipus trilogy, in which Oedipus has already discovered the seeds of his sins, gouged out his eyes, and renounced his rule of Thebes. Jocasta, mother and wife of Oedipus, is dead and her brother Creon claims the throne as his own. After the bloody mess Oedipus left behind, his daughter Antigone must weigh the horrific consequences, including preparing for her brother Polyneices' burial. However, in light of the conflict that also emerges after Oedipus' death, Antigone is by law not allowed to bury her family member, thus beginning her heroic search for an adequate and humane burial for her brother: “I will bury him; and if I die for it, I'm happy. I will rest as; beloved with him whom I have loved, innocent in my guilt” (Sophocles 160-162). This statement by Antigone is truly what gives the heroic nature to her quest, as she only wishes to complete what is right according to humanitarian law, not according to the king's rule, even if doing so means self-sacrifice. Lysistrata has much more of an easy battle to fight than Antigone. Instead of having to fight against injustice coming from her own family, Lysistrata must face injustice against her entire gender, in which the women of Athens have become nothing more than meat bags for their men as they return from battle and if they leave and leave again as please. Lysistrata sees this for what it is, the abuse of women through the patriarchal society she lives in, and talks about it with the other woman in Athens. Lysistrata believes that if she and other women united in a strike against sex, then they could gain control over the males in society, in a substantial reversal of power. To achieve his heroic goal of improving the lives of women across Athens, he asks them to swear an oath to his purpose: “I have nothing to do with husband or lover; Even when he approaches me straight and ready” (Aristophanes). Through this mantra, Lysistrata is able to unite the women of Athens to her cause as she pursues a better social status for her gender. Although burying a family member, or starting a civil movement, may not seem like a heroic act. , the characters of Antigone and Lysistrata advance their status through their innate devotion to their cause. The sign of a person.