Conscience Manifests Tensions
... Many characters create their own tension in the tragedy by their listening or ignoring their conscience. By listening to their conscience, the tension can augment and will eventually lead to their downfall. Ismene proves her down fall when she denies her own conscience in order to keep her life. The tragedy introduces Ismene, who falls victim to her conscience when Antigone confronts her with the request to bury Polynieces (Prologue. ... Ismene has two choices; go against her own conscience, or obey the law. ... In this scene, Creon’s law scares Ismene into betraying her conscience, thus creating tension and suspense upon the character.