Conformism In Antigone

To begin, Antigone’s dialogue with Creon heavily focuses on the power of religious law over mortal law. Antigone proclaims, “Nor did I think your edict had such force that

Throughout the play, Antigone is established as a veritably religious existent, most specially when she states to Creon, “ Nor did I suppose your edict had similar force that you, a bare mortal, could stamp the gods, the great verbal, imperturbable traditions. They're alive, not just moment or history they live ever, from the first of time, and no bone knows when they first saw the light ”( Sophocles 82). Antigone expresses that not only does she find Creon’s recently established law cruel and unwarranted, but she also claims that indeed if his law was indigenous, it can no way trump laws established by the gods. While Antigone constantly defies against Creon, the current sovereign of Thebes, at no point in the play does she ever misdoubt or defy the gods, whom Antigone defines as her true autocrats. Antigone recognizes that the gods are almighty and each- important, which is why she eventually values godly law over civil and mortal law because she recognizes that no matter how numerous or what kind of laws Creon establishes, godly law will always triumph because the gods have power over any mortal leader.

Antigone and Ismene debate on whether they should die for a ritualistic burial. Antigone immediately announces:“But I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy. ”(Sophocles 55-56) Antigone knows that no one will bury her brother unless she does. She decided to put god’s law above man’s law, something everyone around her couldn’t do.

When questioned, she doesn’t deny her actions. In her heart, she trusts her actions were not apostate and was willing to risk her life for Polynices. That they both have strong reasons for their actions is evident, as is the competence of each to support his or her point of view in regard to law. The distinction between them however, is that Antigone appeals to divine law, whereas Creon appeals to man-made law. They are both ultimately right, but then again you have to place a bit of blame on them too merely because they're both to pigheaded to look at things in another way.

Ismene tries to take partial blame for the burial of Polyneices, Antigone refusing “I should not want you” (Sophocles 493). This represents Antigone’s enormous pride for her actions and loyalty to her family. The next encounter between Ismene and Antigone, Ismene's choices show how Antigone wants all the attention for herself. Creon also begins blaming Ismene a “snake” for the crimes Antigone has committed. Ismene shows her caring archetype by admitting “I am guilty…

Creon has officially made the decision that he is not going to bury Polyneices which angers Antigone. Antigone needs help to reach her goal and she says to Ismene, “You may do as you like, since apparently the laws of the Gods mean nothing to you (Sophocles, et al. 192).” Ismene is hesitant to agree with Antigone and join her in this task because she does not want to break the law and go against Creon’s words. Antigone is making Ismene feel

Antigone uses both logical and emotional appeals to persuade her sister Ismene that their brother Polyneices should be honored and have a proper burial. During an argument between Antigone and Ismene, Ismene believes that the law should be obeyed therefore she will not help Antigone. Antigone states, “Polyneices, who fought as bravely and died as miserably…no one shall bury him, no one mourn for him… his body must lie in the fields (Sophocles et al.190).” Antigone is trying to communicate to Ismene through the use of an emotional and logical appeal by explaining that he was, left to be decomposed by the birds. In the Greek culture, having a burial is a civic and religious duty which is necessary to proceed to the afterlife unaffected.

In the play, Antigone, daughter of Oedipus learns about the death of her two brothers (Eteocles and Polynices).Creon, the new king of Thebes passed a decree to the city on the burial of the two brothers. In the decree, Creon declares that Eteocles body should be buried with honor and fame for his courage of saving the city from the enemy. Whiles Polynices body is left unburied and rotting for beasts to feed on because he came to destroy the city and enslave the people. Antigone defies Creon 's decree, buries Polynices body and gets caught. Creon imprisons her

She believed that God’s laws were higher than man’s laws so she was ‘pleasing those [she] should please most’ (Blondell, 23). While arguing with her sister, Ismene, about breaking the law, Antigone demonstrated her determination to bury her brother because she knew that it was the moral thing to do, regardless of the deadly outcome. She was willing to perform the ‘crime of piety’ (Blondell, 23) – the crime that was ‘honored by the gods’ (Blondell, 23). To her, following God’s laws was the most justified even if it meant that she had to break man’s laws, because the God’s laws were ‘not for now or yesterday, but live forever’ (Blondell, 38).

“Antigone” is a Greek tragedy that was written by the playwriter Sophocles. It is the final play of a trilogy that also includes “Oedipus the King” and “Oedipus at Colonus”. Throughout the play there are many lessons to be learned but none are as important as the concept of the relationship between individuals and the state. The problems within the play that relate to this issue are as present within our society today as they were during Sophocles’ time. The lack of influence in government from its citizens leads to injustice and cruelty because the government is following their own agendas.

Antigone is loyal to the gods and not to Creon. Antigone states, “Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way. ’’(P.32). What she means is that nobody can block her or stand in her way from doing what she has to do for her brother.

In Antigone, it is evident that both Creon and Antigone made mistakes in spite of the fact that they had right intentions. Creon attempts to uphold the law in order to maintain structure and be what he considers to be a just leader, however, Creon’s mindset remains too rigid and his actions don’t adapt in light of the circumstances. Antigone wants to stay loyal to her family and save her brother’s soul, yet she isolates herself and shows disrespect for the law. Creon does not allow Antigone any grace for her actions because he explicitly adheres to the laws of the city.

Antigone disobeying man’s law showed how that to her god’s law ruled over all and it directly impacted almost every single decision she made. Teiresias shows how god’s law is more important than man’s law because he directly told Creon who made the law, that he should free Antigone and go back on his law and bury Polyneices. Creon shows how god’s law is more important than man’s law because at the end he tries to follow god’s law and accepts that he was wrong, but still lost every due to the fallout of his earlier

in which she is following God. Antigone’s choice to go up against Creon’s law is influenced by her core value of believing in

In Antigone, there was two brothers who shared being the King and one of the brothers, Polynices, wanted to start a war with the kingdom because he wanted to be the main ruler. Polynices and his brother Eteocles fight and they both end up killing each other. Their Uncle Creon, who takes position as King when they are both killed, decides that only Eteocles will have a proper burial and Polynices will be left to rot. Antigone, Polynices and Eteocles sister, thinks that Creon’s decision is unfair and takes upon herself to give Polynices a proper burial. When their other sister Ismene finds out, she is stuck between helping her sister bury their brother and following Creon’s demands.