“Antigone” the play written by Sophocles deals with moral law vs civil law. King Creon has condemned Princess Antgione. Antgione went against the king’s decree and buried her brother Ploynices. Antgione now will be punished by starvation under King Creon’s decree. Antigone is a passionate, strong willed, and determined women. Antigone is a passionate character in the play we see this as we learn of her as we see her put moral law above civil law. An important ideal in Ancient Greece was the belief that the government was to have no control in matters concerning religious beliefs.
In Antigone’s eyes, Creon betrayed that ideal by not allowing her to properly bury her brother, Polynices. She believed that the burial was a religious ceremony, and Creon did not have the power to deny Polynices that right. Antigone is ready to defy Creons decree and do what she feels in her heart is right we see this when she says “Will you life up his body with these bare hands and lower it with me? “. Threw out the play Antigone is strong willed. She doesn’t want Ismene to explain the law to her.
When she asks Ismene to help her with the burial of Ploynice, Ismene says no. When Ismene tries to convince Antigone to not defy Creons decree Antigone tells her “I won’t insist no, even if you should have a change in heart, I’d never welcome you in the labor, not with me. So, do as you like, whatever suits you best- I’ll bury him myself. “. Antigone is not willing to give up with out a fight and she isnt going to let anyone get in her way. Antigone is one of the strong willed characters in this play.
When she is done burring her brother, after all the torment she has endured she says “My reverence only brands me for irreverence! “. Antigone isn’t sorry even though by doing the right thing she will be put to death by starvation in a tomb. She is obeying the law of the gods rather then the law of Creon. When Antigone takes matters in to her own hands and does what is right ,that shows strong soul . Having a strong sense of moral law in Greek mythology will lead to a good after life.
Antigone lost her own life to carry out justice. She obeyed the Gods over the civil law that was stated by King Creon. In modern day times we look to the moral codes more then the codes from Gods unlike the Greeks did. There are many current Antigone’s in today society, such as the many people who fight to stop abortion. They religiously don’t believe in even though at the current time the government says its fine. Sometimes civil law has to step down to the moral codes of a society.
