Antigone And Allegory Of The Cave Analysis

Despite the varying motivations of governments in the works of Antigone and “Allegory of the Cave”, both share similar problems. As with any type of government, opposition exists, and often sparks conflict between multiple parties. Flaws are inherent in almost every government, and often lead to a weakening of power for the monarch. Basing government abilities on something not everyone believes in limits not only the rulers, but also others that are denied access because of their beliefs or opinions. Religion and knowledge are unreliable things to base a government on. The best person for the position would never have access to it. In a government based on religion, the best person for leadership could be an atheist.

In both works, government is seen as a negative and complex topic. The entire plot of Antigone is based on …show more content…
The strict laws imposed on the citizens smother the people of Thebes, yet Antigone is the only one who stands up for her beliefs. In “Allegory of the Cave”, Glaucon is pressured by Socrates to conform to his strict ideas of what government should and should not be. The people in positions of power, in this case Creon and Socrates, use the others’ ignorance against them to force their ideas of law.

The two types of government, or law, we see in Antigone are based in two very different themes. One has its roots in religion and the gods, using fear as a tool for motivation. The other is based in the earth and the gifts it gives. Government by religion is seen as a personal law, one that is imposed on a character by oneself. Government by land is based on the rule of the monarchs and more closely resembles the government we see today. Sometimes these governments combine to create a multi-level government, such as the one we see in Antigone. The characters do not see this