Thomas Jefferson once said, “It is reasonable that everyone who asks justice should do justice.” In the play Antigone by Sophocles, it contrasts many perspectives and definitions of justice. In the beginning, two brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, fight in a civil war for who reigns Thebes, but both have been killed. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, have honored Eteocles and disgraced Polyneices. He took the disgrace further and lawed that ever who buries polyneices will be executed. However, his niece, Antigone, defied his orders and buried Polyneices. When Creon found out, he decided to execute Antigone anyway, despite her identity as his niece and many negative responses from his successor and citizens. Creon’s defiance became the auxiliary rule of law, regardless of the importance of citizens. Antigone, however, defined her justice to the duty of the gods. Although Creon believes that the state is the supreme of justice, Antigone sided that the gods and human law are the key points of justice. Antigone draws a sharp distinction of the laws of the gods and the civil law. For …show more content…
He states, “My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city!” (2.596). As Creon became extremely prideful of his power, he begins to contradict the duty of the gods and citizens. Because of this, Creon’s only justice is his own opinion rather than other wise advice that is given to him. However, Antigone challenged Creon’s law. Antigone reflects an immunity to his power and influence of fear. Antigone states, “...I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy…” (1.55-56). Definitely, Antigone is standing up against Creon’s justice. She’s the only woman with the will to stop him, but she isn’t enough of a dominion to stop him. For Antigone, her justice is to repeal the law and stick to the justice of human
Conner Johnson Mr. Milroy English 10b Hon. 17 January 2023 Ambiguous character Antigone is a morally ambiguous character who plays a pivotal role in the play Antigone by Sophocles. Being the play’s lead character, She is the starting cause of all the struggles in the drama. Violating the law is an action Antigone sees as necessary to fit what she believes is morally right, consequently creating contrast in her character of whether she is morally just or conversely purely evil.
Antigone is a tragedy play written by Sophocles. In the story, Antigone, a young woman, had requested permission from Creon, the king at the time, to have a proper burial for her brother, Polyneices; even though he was a traitor and the law forbids mourning for him. Creon had denied Antigone's request for the burial of her brother, however, Antigone had still carried out the burial. Unfortunately, she had been caught in her act, by the king’s guard, and brought before Creon.
In Sophocles Antigone it states “; but his brother Polyneices, who broke his exile to come back with fire and sword against his native city”. This shows that Creon decided that his actions were for the best for his people. This shows that Creon was trying to be justified by doing what's right for his people and not letting personal ties disrupt what's right. Antigone is justified in her own way because she is trying to bury her brother because she feels since he is dead he deserves to be out in peace. Antigone stated that her brother deserves a burial just like anybody else because he also fought.
Antigone was justifiable in her action to disobey the proclamation that Creon created. Creon is immoral in the condemned burial of Polynices. Antigone is moved by her religious perspective, family ties and passionate aspects to go against the law of the land that makes her actions just in what she did rather than unjust. The Gods’ law was more crucial than any mortals law. Antigone’s view on the gods being of a higher power made her decision non-defiant since she only broke a mortals law not the gods.
Antigone also shows that by taking action on a personal belief is stronger than something forbidden because she goes against the town’s laws to fill her belief. Creon, the ruler of Thebes, places a law on Antigone’s brother, Polyneices, that he shall never be buried, Antigone breaks the law to bury him. In the play Antigone and her sister, Ismene, are talking about the burial of Polyneices because Ismene does not agree with Antigone. Antigone says, “Ismene, I am going to bury him.
Antigone is put in a devastating position when her two brothers have both died fighting against each other and one has recieved burial and the other has not. One brother is being portrayed as honorable and a hero and the other as a traitor who deserves to rot because of his actions. Antigone is justified in her act of disobedience when she decides to bury her “traitor” of a brother, Polynices. This is made clear in the play Antigone by Sophocles when divine laws are said to be important over everything and when Antigone's rights are being violated. From a critical source and standpoint it is also true because Creon’s authority is questionable from the start and dishonoring the dead is prohibited by rules of warfare.
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, he demonstrates the many ways an unjust leader can overpower those who fight for what is right (Adams, 1). In Antigone’s case, she fought for the just treatment of her brother in his afterlife and bringing him a proper burial. In her fight for justice, Antigone exhibits strong beliefs of fairness for her community regarding family, rights and morality. In Sophocles’ play, Antigone, he displays a variety of different types of justice.
All laws are created for a reason; everyone is held accountable to the same laws. In Sophocles play, Antigone, the first thing King Creon does is proclaim a strident but coherent set of laws for the people of Thebes. Most people obey the law but some do not. One of the rebels in the scenario is the main character, Antigone. She is the daughter of the deceased King and Queen, as well as the sister of Polyneices, Eteocles, and Ismene.
In the classic play by Sophocles, Antigone is a tragic story of the bold Antigone who defied her uncle, King Creonʻs, edict by burying her brother, Polyneices, who died attacking the city of Thebes, trying to take the power away from their brother, Eteocles, who refused to share the throne with Polyneices. Even though Antigone knew that going against Creon and burying her brother would not end well for her, she still choose to risk her life to do what is right. After being caught breaking the law, Antigone is appointed to be locked away, isolated in a cave until she dies, but she hangs herself at the end. At the same time, things for Creon are not looking good, as everyone around him seems to be against him in his decision for punishing Antigone. Everyone Creon cares about kills themselves from a curse that is put on Creon for not following the Godsʻ laws.
Standing for what you believe in and knowing what 's right and wrong is important . In the play, Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates that through the conflict of the character. The play is a well-known tragic drama about the conflict between Antigone and her uncle Creon who is king of Thebes. Both characters have different beliefs, ideas and opinions regarding divine law and civil law. The conflict between civil and divine law through Antigone and Creon, shows how vital one 's beliefs and how it impacts the outcome of the play.
Creon finally realizes that he was wrong and Antigone’s act made him realize this. Antigone was able to create change through her action, and thus making her act a civil disobedient
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the characters of Antigone and Creon stand in opposition to each other. One man, Polyneices, the brother of Antigone and the nephew of Creon, has been declared a traitor of Thebes. Antigone would rather die than leave her brother unburied, but King Creon believes that civil law is absolute. However, it is only Antigone who is able to truly defend her ethics.
His free choice is represented by a quote from the guard surveying Polyneices body, “We saw this girl giving that dead man's corpse full burial rites—an act you’d made illegal” (337). Although Creon's own niece turns out to be the one that went against his word, he still chooses to follow through with the punishment even though the deed Antigone did was morally right. The punishment that he lays upon Antigone is excessive and unjust considering the crime. While in an argument with her, he calls to his guards proclaiming, “Take her and shut her up, as I have ordered, in her tomb’s embrace [...]
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, he demonstrates the many ways an unjust leader can overpower those who fight for what is right (Adams 1). In Antigone’s case, she fought for the just treatment of her brother in his afterlife and for giving him a proper burial. In her fight for justice, Antigone exhibits strong beliefs of fairness to her community regarding family, rights and morality in her battle against a seemingly unjust leader, Kreon. Sophocles’, in Antigone, displays the type of justice called fairness. He pulls the laws and unjust teachings of his time and puts them into a play for all to see and analyze.
English Literature Ms. Jackson The tragedy of right vs. right in the play “Antigone” In the play “Antigone” by Sophocles both Creon and Antigone are equally justified in their actions, however because they place different values first (Creon with law, and Antigone with emotion), conflict is created between them, creating a tragedy of right vs. right rather than right vs. wrong. The idea that neither of the main characters are going directly against each other proves this play is a tragedy of right vs. right. Creon himself says “Anarchy- Show me a greater crime in all the earth.