In the play Antigone, one realizes the dispute between the characters regarding a person’s morality and duty to the government. Antigone was written and performed in the late 440s B.C. The main characters in this play are Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, the late king of Thebes and Creon, brother to Jocasta, the late queen of Thebes, Captain-general of the army, and successor to the throne. The main conflict that is displayed throughout this play is whether to follow and adhere to the laws of the state or to natural law. In the book Antigone by Sophocles, both Creon and Antigone exhibit character defects in their actions leading to suffering, but in the end the true tragic character is Creon.
During the beginning of the play, Antigone decided to reject the order of Creon and bury her brother, honoring the unwritten laws of the gods. In rejecting the law of the state she is sentenced to death. Also, in the first few discussions with her sister Ismene, Antigone declares “ From my own He has no right to stay me”. In saying this Antigone displays overconfidence in herself and doesn’t believe that Creon has any right to stop her. Another example in which Antigone expresses that it is her duty to bury her brother when she says to Ismene “ Be what seems right to you; Him I will bury” When Ismene refuses to help her bury her brother, Antigone makes it her sole purpose to bury her brother. Antigone shows this lack of uncertainty in having respect for punishment. Moreover, Antigone says “ Death, so met, were honor; And for that capital crime of piety, Loving and loved, I will lay by his side”.
Antigone communicates that her loyalty to her brother is more important than obeying the laws of the state. Furthermore, not only does Antigone exhibit many virtuous and prideful actions; she tests Creon saying “Then why do you delay?”. She tells Creon why do you delay in putting her to death to see if he will actually carry out his decree. Therefore, in the end, Antigone is adamant in believing that she is following a divine unwritten law of the gods than civil law.
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In the play Antigone, one realizes the dispute between the characters regarding a person’s morality and duty to the government. Antigone was written and performed in the late 440s B.C. The main characters in this play are Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, the late king of Thebes and Creon, brother to Jocasta, the late queen of Thebes, Captain-general of the army, and successor to the throne. The main conflict that is displayed throughout this play is whether to follow and adhere to the laws of the state or to natural law. In the book Antigone by Sophocles, both Creon and Antigone exhibit character defects in their actions leading to suffering, but in the end the true tragic character is Creon.
During the beginning of the play, Antigone decided to reject the order of Creon and bury her brother, honoring the unwritten laws of the gods. In rejecting the law of the state she is sentenced to death. Also, in the first few discussions with her sister Ismene, Antigone declares “ From my own He has no right to stay me”. In saying this Antigone displays overconfidence in herself and doesn’t believe that Creon has any right to stop her. Another example in which Antigone expresses that it is her duty to bury her brother when she says to Ismene “ Be what seems right to you; Him I will bury” When Ismene refuses to help her bury her brother, Antigone makes it her sole purpose to bury her brother. Antigone shows this lack of uncertainty in having respect for punishment. Moreover, Antigone says “ Death, so met, were honor; And for that capital crime of piety, Loving and loved, I will lay by his side”.
Antigone communicates that her loyalty to her brother is more important than obeying the laws of the state. Furthermore, not only does Antigone exhibit many virtuous and prideful actions; she tests Creon saying “Then why do you delay?”. She tells Creon why do you delay in putting her to death to see if he will actually carry out his decree. Therefore, in the end, Antigone is adamant in believing that she is following a divine unwritten law of the gods than civil law.
