Thursday, January 31, 2008

Ismene and Scooby Snacks

So, Oedipus. Man, that's just gross. And I can't believe it took him that long to figure it out. I mean, I could never solve the mysteries on "Scooby Doo", but I think I would have noticed after ten years that I was banging my mom. I would have figured out the prophecy was about me from some basic deduction, perhaps with a Sherlock Holmes cap. Like, the chick I was procreating with looked a lot like me, my kids had webbed feet, this prophecy keeps coming back to haunt me, foreshadowing music plays in the background every time this guy who kills his father and marries his mom is mentioned, etc. Maybe the gang in the Mystery Machine and I have an advantage over Oedipus in that we both have Scooby snacks. Mine come in the form of S'Mores Poptarts, which I eat about every day in your class, Mr. C.

My first thoughts about Antigone actually have to do with her sister, Ismene. Now I've told my opinion about Ismene to just about everyone, from Mr. Greenlee to Greg. It's written all over the margins in my English book. Ismene is a tool. If Ismene were alive today and still ticking me off as she did some 3000 years ago (or whatever, I don't really remember Civ I other than Mr. Phillips introduced me to the awesomeness that is Metallica), I would put this on her locker:Photobucket

Urban dictionary defines "tool" as, "someone who tries too hard. a poser. one of those chicks who holds the sign saying 'Carson Daly is Hot.' the &$%#@! who goes to a rock show because they heard one of the songs on the radio or mtv. or someone who insists on wearing velour sweat suits. Avril Lavigne," with the example sentence reading, "Jane is a tool because she dresses like Avril Lavigne while listening to New Found Glory and Dashboard Confessional just because Carson Daly told her to." Ismene at first doesn't help Antigone because she doesn't have the guts to bury her brother (it seems that Antigone inherited the guts in this family—perhaps something weird from the incest). But then, when Antigone is getting all this press coverage for burying her brother, Ismene bursts into the palace and yells (paraphrased), "I DID IT TOO!" to which Antigone responds (paraphrased), "Dude, you poser." Ismene represents the people who jump on bandwagons. She represents everyone who enjoyed the movie 'Napoleon Dynamite'.

But seriously, why do I despise Ismene, the tool, so much? Well, Antigone first approaches her about the burying Polynices to the person she trusts most: her beloved sister. Her sister thinks it's a swell idea, but doesn't have the courage to go forth with Antigone. Ouch to the family bond. This reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite movies of all time, Batman Begins, when Henri Ducard proclaims, "The training is nothing! The will is everything! The will to act." Then he beats up the future Batman in the wilderness of Tibet. What I'm trying to say here is Ismene's good intentions but lack of willpower to follow through with them make her worse than someone who lacked the good intentions at all. And she only voices her opinion on the matter after Antigone gets lots of attention about it. Ismene is an attention-seeking tool who might have become that way through the weird incest thing her parents had going on.

I was first a bit weirded out by Haemon because he was Antigone's cousin and they were going to be married. Thank goodness that's only legal in like West Virginia and weird parts of Utah. But then I realized he was okay. It was a bit of a low blow on Creon's part to be dissing Haemon's manliness. Even if Antigone wears the pants in the relationship. But Haemon was truly digging Antigone's view on the dead brother matter. So hard to find that in a guy.

In other news, I went to a comic book convention last weekend. That is much cooler than it sounds. However, I am troubled that I need to be eighteen years old to join the Rebel Alliance. Also, I read some excellent graphic novels. Plus I met the original Chewbacca. Now I can play "Let It Be" on my mandolin. I still have yet to have a proper lesson on the bizarre instrument, but teaching myself is going rather well. I sold my soul to Mr. Burns and might never get it back. Because, after the musical, I'm directing a one-act. My play is to be determined, but it will be awesome. Everyone should go see it. April 24th, guys. SCHOOL SPIRIT! It should be like Game Day, only more intentionally funny. Also, I've heard the musical is going to be awesome, mostly because I talk with a Brooklyn accent and Jimmy plays himself in ten years. Contrary to what you may think, "Bye Bye Birdie!" is not about an aviary or badminton. It is about girls swooning over Eric.

And now I'm going to roll bowling balls down Camelback Mountain and into my neighbor's pool. (830)

5 comments:

Deepa Rao said...

Lizzy, you are one of the funniest people I know (and LOVE!).

I was thinking the same thing about Ismene. She only defends Antigone after the deed is done and she wants in for some of the glory.
But Antigone wants all the attention! While Antigone buries her brother to protect her family's honor, she completely disregards her sister in doing so. Antigone swats away her sister like a gnat.

Fun post! Love you :)
-Le Deepa

HBalholm said...

Burtonumus!

First off, I like how this post isn't only related to English, but it gives us bloggers some insight into what other things are going on in your life (such as rolling bowling balls down Camelback Mountain into your neighbor's pool...sounds like fun...especially at 10:00 at night-- the time you wrote this post).

But, in relation to Antigone, I find your views quite similar to those of Piper's, actually. Piper says that Antigone is the one who wants attention while you say it's Ismene who wants it too. And yes, Ismene is a tool.

Extraordinary post!

Hutch

chelsea robbins said...

LIZZY
totally didn't realize how toolish Ismene is until I read your blog.
you really opened my eyes. i agree with your comparison. i also laughed heartily during your entire blog so, thanks :)

chelsss

Alex Zadel said...

Lizzy-B,

Thank you for finding the ideal word to describe Ismene. She pissed me off SO much in the story. Though I wish she would have had a bit more of a chance to redeem herself to her family. I think she was a coward but I'm one of those sad optimists that would love to see Ismene like stab the guards and free Antigone while doing Matrix moves (Antigone = Trinity?)
Very nice blog.
And you promised to tell me next time you did somethin diabolical with bowling balls!!!

--Z

LCC said...

Blizzy--Here's my 30-second defense of Ismene. Antigone, who's clearly been thinking about her decision for a while, gives her sister about 9 seconds to make the biggest decision of her life. Then, when Ismene hesitates, Antigone slams her, spits on her, throws dirt in her eye, and disowns her, dashing off to earn all the so-called "glory" herself. Then, when Ismene, who finally gets a few seconds to think things over, decides that Antigone deserves her support, big sis won't have anything to do with her: "I gave you your chance and you blew it, kid, so go feel miserable for the rest of your life while I die," or something like that.

Put her down all you want, but it ain't easy being little sis to that Antigone girl.