Antigone Sophocles tragedy Antigone is often examined within the limits of the conflict of divine law and mans law. The theme of omnipotence of destiny runs all through the play. Sophocles tells the story of Oedipus elder daughter Antigone. Oedipus sons, Eteocles and Polyneices were at war with each other. Eteocles seized power in Thebes. Polyneices with his friends declared the war against his native city.
Both brothers died during the battle. The new king, Creon, prohibits Polyneices burial as he led the war against his home. However, Polyneices sister, a brave and courageous Antigone performs the rite of burial over her brother because she doesnt want to be guilty of dishonoring laws which the gods have established in honor (Sophocles, 1986).
When Creon asks her whether she indeed dared to violate his will, she answers: I declare it and make no denial (Sophocles, 1986).
Antigone is sure in her righteousness of the cause because she honored the divine laws and buried a brother, not slave (Sophocles, 1986).
Then, Creon reminds her that Polyneices was the one was fighting against his country while the other in her defense (Sophocles, 1986).
Again, Antigone asserts that Hades, however, seeks similar laws for all (Sophocles, 1986).
Creon objects that it is not right for good and evil to be rewarded by the same lot (Sophocles, 1986).
Antigone answers with confidence that who knows if such things are of any value down below (Sophocles, 1986).
The Term Paper on Antigone: an Assessment of Antigone’s and Creon
How was your understanding of cultural and contextual considerations of the work developed through the interactive oral? After taking part in the interactive oral presentation carried out by Sonia’s group, I now believe that I have gained a much greater understanding of the play Antigone. Themes commented on by the presentation were women, religion and tragedy; further examining their place in ...
Because of her disobedience, Antigone was doomed to death, due to reason that no one can disobey the mans law. It is clearly shown that Creon thought not about the people and Gods, but became utterly engrossed in government, might and power. Antigone, in contrast to him, thought about the Gods, people, honor and piety. Creon sophistically justifies his actions by the interest of his government.
Creon is ready to punish anybody who will dare to oppose his will. Any kind of insubordination and disobedience Creon interprets as anti-state activity. He acknowledges only total obedience and subordination to his rules, even when he is wrong. The end of the play is tragic. The blind soothsayer Tiresias comes to Creon and tells him that Gods became angry with him due to his monstrous cruelty. Creon decides to release Antigone, but it is too late. The woman committed a suicide.
When Creons son, Antigones fiance learns about her death, he also commits a suicide. His mother, Creons wife, cannot bear it any longer and also kills herself. Antigone consciously predetermined the way that brought her to death. It was a deliberate act of her will. Sophocles seems to support her decision, because Antigone obeys to unwritten moral laws of her ancestors and to divine laws. She doesnt renounce her brother and retains fidelity and allegiance to the moral principles and ties of blood. Ancient Greeks considered that an unburied soul is doomed for eternal tortures. No wonder that Greeks considered that Antigone made a heroic deed.
She overcame the fear of death and proved fidelity to moral principles. From the viewpoint of ancient Greeks, divine laws and bonds of blood are of higher priority than mans laws and demanding orders of the kings. Sophocles asserts and glorifies the greatness of spirit. The chorus sings: Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than man (Sophocles, 1986) Sophocles exposes one of the deepest conflicts of his conteporary society: the conflict between natural or divine law and the state or the mans law. Religious rites and beliefs trace back into the heart of the centuries, where the ancestral community enjoined to honor the blood ties and to perform all necessary rites over the relatives. On the other hand, any citizen had to obey the governmental laws that sometimes run counter to the religious views and to the traditional familial patrimonal traditions. Nowadays, the Church and divine will rarely plays as great role as it was during the ancient times. However, people, who believe in God, believe in Gods supremacy and in firmness and steadfastness of the divine law.
The Essay on Written Law Vs Unwritten Law In Antigone
... presented by God. The idea of unwritten or divine law is described as being the unwritten laws of the Gods (Sophocles 64). Unwritten laws or divine laws are indefinitely ... against Creons written laws, but her belief for unwritten laws or in other words Moral laws far out weighed the laws set forth by Creon. Antigone goes ...
Bibliography Sophocles. Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Books, 1986..
