Words: 1246
International Baccalaureate English 11 Period 1
9 January 2006
natural law and State Law in Antigone
In Antigone, one of the meanings Sophocles presents is State Law versus Natural Law which do not always agree. Sophocles uses characterization to show the conflict between the two ideas. State Law is defined as a translation of Natural Law into “concrete norms governing peoples and nations” (“Natural Law Theory”).
Natural Law is the assertion there is a “natural order to the human world” that is good, should never be violated, and is eternally true (“Natural Law Theory”, Passudetti).
Ideas relating to ‘natural law’ predate Christianity. In Greece and Rome, ‘natural law’ was “invoked” in conflicts when what a ruler or judge decreed and what natural law dictates disagree (“Natural Law”).
Sophocles, a Greek playwright, was the first to write about an “immutable and eternal” law in the tragedy Antigone (“Natural Law Theory”).
Sophocles portrays the concepts of Natural Law and State Law through characters in the play. The effect this creates is to make the conflict between Natural Law and State Law easier to understand for the audience. After analysis, the character Creon is characterized most closely with State Law and Antigone is associated with Natural Law (Young 2).
The Essay on Sophocles: Antigone the Famous Play in Ancient Greek
In the famous play Antigone, by the ancient Greek writer Sophocles, many values of the culture in Thebes is portrayed through Antigone’s actions and experiences. In Antigone’s quest to bury her brother, she is alienated from society due to her uncle Creon – who also happens to be the king of Thebes. Creon, who is unwilling to let a woman get the better of him, refuses to let his ...
There are several occasions where Sophocles hints that Creon represents State Law. The first occurs in Creon’s first dialog on page seven through page nine, “Sirs, for the ship of state- the Gods once more,/After much rocking on a stormy surge, Set her on even keel (Young 7).” In this quote, Creon is saying how the State and its laws are the ship and the Gods are the ocean (Passudetti).
Creon’s mindset is that he is the driver of the ship and even though admits he does not have total control as the Gods do, he believes his “will” overrides the Gods’ (Passudetti, Young 8-9).
Sophocles reiterates this ship concept in the chorus on page thirteen and fourteen. This belief is a representation of State Law because State Law is a specific application of “eternal law in the realm of the nature”, meaning that it’s a human interpretation of the Natural Laws which could be interpreted incorrectly (“Natural Law Theory”, Young 18).
This incorrect interpretation is characterized through the way Creon deals with the burial of Polynices. It was customary in Greek culture to bury the dead out of respect for the deceased. This belief was based on Natural Law (Young, Back Cover).
On page two in a dialog between Antigone and Ismene, Antigone says, “Eteocles/…He hid beneath the earth rendering him honour” while “the dead body/Of Polynices, miserably slain” and “none [shall] bury [his body] (Young 2).” This quote refers to Creon’s declaration that Polynices’ body “shall be left to be devoured/By dogs and fowls of the air” and that “Death is the penalty” to anyone who tries to cover his body (Young 9).
Creon’s justification for not burying the body because Polynices was a “wicked man” who did not deserve the “honours of the righteous (Young 9).” Creon misinterprets the concept that a good leader does not make alliances with the enemy because he believes because Polynices rebelled against his brother, Eteocles, he is therefore an enemy (Passudetti).
Sophocles uses this to point out how going against the Natural Laws in the name of the State makes the law maker an enemy of the State, rather than a servant (Passudetti).
The Essay on Written Law Vs Unwritten Law In Antigone
In the play Antigone there is quite a difference in opinion to whether Antigones actions to go against Human Law or in other words Governed Law was justifiable. Is there a line we can cross when it comes to set laws? Antigone sure thought so. Or was Antigone fighting for her rights as a women to do as she pleased, or was she doing what was best for her brother, "I intend to give my brother burial. ...
Again, on page twenty-five, Creon makes a speech where he makes it known he thinks he has more power than he does. This is a clear representation of the conflicting ideas of Natural Law and State Law in Antigone.
As State Law is represented in Creon, Natural Law is represented in a similar fashion through Antigone. Natural Law has an important role in the meaning of Antigone because it contrasts the theory of State Law (“Natural Law Theory”).
There are several places where Antigone is represented as Natural Law. One of these appears in Scene III during Creon’s meeting with Antigone. The beginning of the scene describes the guards bringing Antigone to Creon after seeing her burying Polynices and her adamant admitting to it. Antigone justifies her actions “Because it was not Zeus who ordered it/Nor Justice, dweller of the Nether Gods,/Gave such a law to men (Young 17).” This means that the Human (State) Law does not override the Natural Law to bury the dead.[quote:c0f3ebed76] She then goes on to say,
“nor did I deem
Your ordinance such a binding force,
As that a mortal cannot overbear
The unchangeable unwritten code of Heaven; (Young 17).”[/quote:c0f3ebed76]
In this quote, Antigone says that she did not follow his decree because she believes man does not have the power to overrule the “unchangeable unwritten code of Heaven” (Young 17).
“This is not of today and yesterday,/But lives forever (Young 17-18).” Antigone further states that the Natural Law of Heaven has not changed and will not change, being valid for all time. Sophocles writes these lines to be said by Antigone. The effect this has on her representation of Natural Law is to reinforce it by giving her character morals that are the foundations for the Natural Law Theory: “there is a natural order to the human world, that this order is good, and that people ought therefore not violate it (“Natural Law Theory”).” Another instance where Antigone is associated with Natural Law occurs on page one: “Do you perceive how Heaven upon us two/ Means to fulfill before we die/Out of all ills that grow from Oedipus- (Young 1).” Antigone is in dialog with Ismene discussing the concept of Fate and how their lives have been determined by what their Father has done. Fate is significant because it is part of the Natural Law where things are planned and should be left to “play out” on their own (Passudetti).
The Essay on Antigone Laws Of The State
One commentator has argued in 'Antigone' that Antigone's 'view of what is right is as twisted as that of Creon.' Although I do not believe that either Antigone's or Creon's view is 'twisted,' I do believe that their fate is a direct result of their extreme pride and stubbornness. In 'Antigone,' Sophocles examines the conflict between the requirements of human and divine law that is centered on the ...
Antigone and Fate appear together again on page 19: Antigone, “Would you aught more/Than take my life? (Young 19)” Here, Antigone says that she is destined to die now and she accepts her fate because she is devoted to her brother and her cause. Sophocles characterizes Antigone with Natural Law in the way she dies. Antigone dies for what is ‘true’, meaning she believes proving the Natural Law overrules State Law is worth sacrificing herself. This is made known to the reader when Antigone says to Ismene, “You made your choice to live; I mine, to die. (Young 21).” In all these events, Sophocles makes sure to characterize Antigone with Natural Law morals. He does this through the concepts of Fate and devotion (Passudetti).
The Greek tragedy Antigone reveals the fate of Oedipus’ children. One of the major themes in the play, State Law versus Natural Law, was conveyed through two characters. Antigone represented Natural Law while Creon represented State Law. The burial of Polynices created conflict between Antigone and Creon that resembled the conflict between State Law and Natural Law. Sophocles used characterization to model the conflict.
Works Cited
“Natural Law.” Penguin Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. 2004.
“Natural Law Theory.” Villanova University. 6 Jan. 2007
<http://www83.homepage.villanova.edu/richard.jacobs/MPA%208300/theories/natural%20law.html>.
Passudetti, Chris. “Class Discussion on Antigone.” International Baccalaureate English Studies 11, Pine Bush High School, New York. 12 Dec. 2006.
Passudetti, Chris. “Class Discussion on Antigone.” International Baccalaureate English Studies 11, Pine Bush High School, New York. 14 Dec. 2006.
Young, Sir George. Sophocles Antigone. New York: Dover Publications, 1993.
