Final answer:
Ismene's choices highlight her struggle between familial ties and obedience to law, while Haemon's choices reveal his conflict between support for his father and love for Antigone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The choices and conflicts of Ismene and Haemon in the play 'Antigone' present a stark contrast in their engagement with authority and loyalty to family. Ismene's choices reveal her conflict between familial duty and obedience to the laws of the state, while Haemon's choices depict his struggle between supporting his father, Kreon, and defending his betrothed, Antigone.
For Ismene, one quote that showcases her initial reluctance to defy Kreon's edict is when she says to Antigone: "To me, Antigone, no word of friends Has come, or glad or grievous, since we twain Were reft of our two brethren in one day By double fratricide; and since i' the night Our Argive leaguers fled, no later news Has reached me, to inspirit or deject." This quote illustrates Ismene's hesitance to engage in rebellion against her state's rules, embodying a sense of helplessness and passivity in the face of tragic events.
For Haemon, his loyalty to Antigone is evident when the chorus says, "Hither comes in angry mood Haemon, latest of thy brood; Is it for his bride he's grieved, or her marriage-bed deceived, Doth he make his mourn for thee, Maid forlorn, Antigone?" In this quote, Haemon's conflict is apparent as he is torn between his love for Antigone and respect for his father, ultimately placing him at odds with the authority.
Both Ismene and Haemon face the dire consequences of their choices which revolve around the clashes of loyalty, love, law, and rebellion, each providing a distinct perspective within the framework of the play.