Antigone

The story of Antigone begins with the death of Antigone's two brothers. One of her brothers being loyal leads to his legitimate burial, but her other brother, a radical is forbidden to be buried. Antigone believes it is her duty to bury her brother even if it will cost her death.

Her sister, Ismene in attempt to fight Antigone's decision claims that being women they should obey the laws placed upon them by men who are stronger and know better.

When Antigone tells her sister that she will bury their brother with or without her help, Ismene says she will keep her secret a secret, but Antigone declines her offer telling her to proclaim it to the world, because the gods would approve which are the people that matter most. This suggestion is important because throughout the play the quarrel between men and women is constantly in the background.

Creon, the ruler of the Thebes is Antigone's uncle, and future father-in-law, since Antigone is suppose to marry Creon's son. In the beginning of the story, upon finding out about the burial against his wishes he is enraged when it is suggested that the god's might have had something to do with it because criminals are never honored by the gods.

When Creon finds out a woman was responsible for the act, and that she didn't deny a thing nor show fear he is appauled. He speaks with Antigone who denies she commited any crimes or injustice, because these laws were made by a man and not the gods. She then goes on to denounce Creon by saying she would rather die than live in misery by putting up with his laws and regulations.

Creon says "Don't forget: The mind that is most rigid Stumbles soonest"(lines 473-4) and for that, Anitgone is condemned to death

demeter

-MOTHER LOSES HER CHILD TO THE UNDERWORLD-
Demeter is the queen of seasons and their treasures, and also the loyal mother of Persephone who fights hard without persuasion to get her beloved daughter back when she is stolen by Hades, Zues's brother and taken to the underworld. No one can tell her anything that will keep her from retreiving her daughter from the underworld.

In the beginning of the story of Demeter, the writer proclaims he will sing, which is is an invocation of the muse. Without the muse, this story wouldn't be possible.

As the child was being kidnapped she yelled for the help of her father Zeus who was aware of the events taking place, but indifferent at the same time.

The child didn't give up hope of seeing the world above again, her Demeter was aware of her daughter's feelings, and therefore made the recovery of Persephone vital. She is so shattered by the loss of her daughter, so she leaves Mount Olympus and goes to grieve in the humans' cities and their rich fields.

With the absence of Persephone, Demeter takes a human child and watches over him making him devine by depriving him of food just as if he were a god's child. However a human woman spies on Demeter and without knowledge of her being a god, protests the acts and with that Demeter is enraged.

She sheds her rags and for a year makes the land horrible for mortals, which makes Zeus re-evaluate his decision to keep Persephone in the underworld.

In the end of the story, it is decided that Persephone will spend 2/3 of her year with her mother, and the other 1/3 with the devil, and after this "The whole wide earth was heaped wiht leaves and flowers"(line 472).
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I think this story shows that although women might be weaker than men (in mythology of course), women still play an important role on Mount Olympus in the decisions made for mortals below.