It is not uncommon for the Civil Law to conflict with Honor. This means that the laws of people, jobs, countries, and duties usually establish a problem with the glory, or respect of people and their self-will, because there are different views of something on each side. This statement is true because many aspects of life involve standing up for what you believe in, while going against the laws of what you have to follow, even though the civil people dont have any patience for any excuses.
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, and the movie A Few Good Men, by Aaron Sorkin, Antigone, Dawson and Downy stand up for hat they think is right at that moment, and go against the laws they were to follow. The Greek Tragic Hero Antigone is characterized as a person with great honor and has a conflict with going against the civil law under Creon, and not burying Polynices. Polynices was a traitor to Thebes and was killed in war against his brother Eteocles. Antigone, Eteocless and Polynicess sister wanted to give Polynices a proper burial. Antigone buried Polynices twice and was caught the second time due to her screaming and crying.
There is no shame in honoring my brother (Antigone line 430), it is true that Antigone stood up for what she believed in, even though there were consequences of dying. Perhaps the honor that you have inside of you is more important than the laws that are created for you. Creon, the King of Thebes did not like the fact that Antigone, Creons own niece, would go against his ruling of not burying Polynices, who in fact was a traitor. Creon is a selfish man who does not care about anything besides power. Well, what do you say-you, hiding your head there; do you admit or deny the deed (Creon line 370-371).
Creon tries to make Antigone confess to her wrongdoing, and she in fact-does onfess to it, because she is proud of what she did and wont deny it. Antigone knows what she did was right and wont let a cruel punishment get in her way. It could be that Creon does not even care what Antigones reason for burying Polynices was, all Creon really cares about is finding the verdict and sentencing them to death, even if they are part of his family. As a result of Creon being so cruel and unjustified, Antigone takes her own life and Haeman takes his life as well, because there was so much depression and sadness between them.
Even though Antigone shows great honor and did what was right for her amily, she still went against the civil law and will be punished for it. The movie is very similar to the play by having Harold Dawson and Louden Downy stand up for what they believe is right. Dawson and stood up for what he believed in and at the same time knew that he had to follow an order. When Dawson and Downy followed the order of their commander to perform the Code Red, they also went against the civil law because Code Reds are not permitted, and they killed Santiago and were arrested because of it. Docit. number 411275VR-5.
The United States vs. Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson and Private first-class Louden Downy. The accused are charged with murder, the conspiracy to commit murder, and conduct on becoming a United States Marine (Jack Ross). Jack Ross states that the United States Government is charging Dawson and Downy of murdering William Santiago, planning the murder out, and not being able to follow their duties as a United States Marine. It is no lie that Dawson and Downy committed the murder, but they only followed an order and accidentally killed Santiago. Dawson committed the Code Red even though he knew better.
Dawson and Downy were told to follow an order by an official higher than themselves, but its ironic that they get in trouble for breaking the civil law. This is so because usually when a Marine is ordered to do something, it is usually a good thing and helps out the Marines, but its unexpected that they are ordered to do something that goes against the civil, or code of law. Perhaps Dawson and Downy didnt do the right thing and should be sentenced to life in jail, but they did what they were supposed to do, and that was following Platoon Leader Kendricks order and should be respected for following the rder in the tough situation.
But I believe I was right sir. I did my job. And I will not dishonor myself, my unit, or the corps, so I could go home in six months, sir (Harold Dawson). What Dawson means is that Private Downy and himself both have a code of Unit Corps-God Country in which they are to follow and they will do so. Dawson and Downy both show great pride in themselves by not accepting the six months of jail time and trying to prove their code, and what they did was right, although they knew if they were convicted the consequences would be that they will go to jail for life, and not be a
United States Marine any longer. As Dawson and Downy follow through on their order of the Code Red, they break the civil law that says Code Reds are illegal. By the end, Dawson and Downy were charged not-guilty on the counts of murder and conspiracy to murder, but were found guilty as charged for conduct on becoming a United States Marine. The theme to this movie is that although Dawson and Downy were put through tons of controversy, and pressure of not taking the six months, they never gave up and always stuck with what they thought was right, and that was following the order.
Although Anitgone, Dawson, and Downy stood up for what they believed in, they were all punished in some way. Antigone hung herself and Dawson and Downy were not aloud to become Marines any longer because of what they did. Antigone, and Dawson both were great leaders in showing honor and what they did was right. Both characters had great pride in themselves and respect. Even though Antigone killed herself and Dawson realized at they end what they did was wrong, they both made it through hard times of trying to prove what they did was right.
