Antigone Law Vs Natural Law

Laws are very important in any society. They are used to maintain order and without them there would be chaos and anarchy. In the well-known Greek play by Sophocles, Antigone, there is a clash between state and natural laws. The play poses the question To whom does a person owe the ultimate loyalty, the state or the natural law and can hubris affect or distort these perspectives. Can such hubris blind a person to other familial duties. While Creon argues that the gods do not celebrate traitors :“exactly when did you last see the gods celebrating traitors” (326-327). He misperceives his own duty to the gods because his hubris blinds him to wise advice and counsel as he relentlessly tries to shore up his own power. He sets himself on equal …show more content…
He makes a decree that Polynices should not be buried and commends his body as a “carrion for birds and dogs to tear” because he fought against Thebes (230). In saying this, Creon is expressing the case for positive law which teaches obedience to state laws. Creon’s determination to ensure Polynices does not get a proper burial is seen when he posts guards to watch and ensure Polynices’ body is not buried. that he says anyone who defies his orders shall be put to death. Creon’s character depicts a person who believes in the importance of obeying earthly magistrates to maintain order: “But that man the city places in authority, his orders must be obeyed, large and small, right and wrong …show more content…
“Nor did I think your edict had such force that you, a mere mortal could override the gods, the great unwritten unshakeable traditions add laws yesterday till light,” in this statement Antigone expresses her feelings towards man-made laws (500-501). She asserts that divine laws should be held in a higher pedestal than human laws when there’s a conflict. Antigone knows that tradition demands certain burial rites for one to enter the underworld; Hades. She reminds Creon that “death longs for the same rites for all (585).” These rites involve proper burial of the deceased to consecrate the body to the underworld. She believes that giving her brother a proper burial would secure him a tomb. This would ensure he is honored and remembered. She also seeks such a memorial for herself when she says “What greater glory could I win than to give my own brother decent burial/ These citizens here would all agree,/ they’d praise me too (563-564).” According to Tony Burns Antigone’s principal argument in the play in defense of her act of disobedience to her uncle’s edict is that the edict conflicts with “ancient customary law” which she strongly feels to be divinely approved