Ismene is Antigone's sister and Oedipus's daughter. The archetype she best represents is that of loyalty to her country and to the established laws. She is also a symbol for prudence. In the story, she refuses to follow her sister Antigone in burying their dead brother, Polynices, because it is against the law. She may even look like a coward, because Antigone is determined to go ahead even when her life is at stake. Even so, Ismene also shows good sense as she tells Antigone to go on but without telling anyone, to which her sister refuses as well.
