One can define justice as fair and just treatment for his or her actions, but individuals can have varying perspectives on what justice would be in certain situations. In her life, Antigone struggled against Creon in two ways: first he forbade all people from burying her brother Polynices, and second she becomes subordinate because of her gender. Antigone directly disobeyed the orders of her king because she felt in her heart that his decision does not exude justice, and she will pursue her own view of justice no matter the cost. In Antigone, Sophocles uses Antigone’s determination to achieve her belief of obeying the law of the gods to show her complete inability to obtain success in order to convey that when a person becomes preoccupied with
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When talking with Haemon, Creon says that, he thinks it is better to fall “at a man’s hand [than] be called a woman” (Sophocles 690-692). The phrase, “than to be called a woman,” used to describe Creon’s view that women should subordinate themselves to men conveys the added difficulty of Antigone’s mission, in that she, as a woman, must prove herself to Creon. Creon plainly states that the worst insult to him would be to be called a woman, and he has already stated that he does not want a woman to rule. This ultimately shows that Creon fears Antigone will gain the support of the people and taking the power away from him. He tried to assert his power by prohibiting anyone from burying the body, and then Antigone goes and directly disobeys him. Antigone’s actions prove that she does not fear Creon and that she will seek out justice even if it results in her death. Even when Tiresias tells Creon that his rash decision will end in tragedy, Creon’s pride blinds him from seeing his fault. When Tiresias forewarns Creon that his decree will result in disaster, Creon refuses to believe Tiresias, saying he will not allow Polynices to be buried “out of fear of this pollution” (Sophocles 1048-1049). The “pollution” symbolizes the curse of Oedipus’ family and the city of Thebes because it represents all of the ad omens that have occurred recently throughout Thebes. Through this symbol, the author conveys Creon’s stubbornness and inability to solve problems with poise and rationality. Antigone already pointed out that Creon’s decision went against the gods, and here when Tiresias warns him again, Creon still refuses to acknowledge his wrongdoing. In this short exchange, Creon shows that he does not fear the consequences of the gods, and will not bend his will “out of fear of this pollution.” Creon’s eyes finally open,
When talking with Haemon, Creon says that, he thinks it is better to fall “at a man’s hand [than] be called a woman” (Sophocles 690-692). The phrase, “than to be called a woman,” used to describe Creon’s view that women should subordinate themselves to men conveys the added difficulty of Antigone’s mission, in that she, as a woman, must prove herself to Creon. Creon plainly states that the worst insult to him would be to be called a woman, and he has already stated that he does not want a woman to rule. This ultimately shows that Creon fears Antigone will gain the support of the people and taking the power away from him. He tried to assert his power by prohibiting anyone from burying the body, and then Antigone goes and directly disobeys him. Antigone’s actions prove that she does not fear Creon and that she will seek out justice even if it results in her death. Even when Tiresias tells Creon that his rash decision will end in tragedy, Creon’s pride blinds him from seeing his fault. When Tiresias forewarns Creon that his decree will result in disaster, Creon refuses to believe Tiresias, saying he will not allow Polynices to be buried “out of fear of this pollution” (Sophocles 1048-1049). The “pollution” symbolizes the curse of Oedipus’ family and the city of Thebes because it represents all of the ad omens that have occurred recently throughout Thebes. Through this symbol, the author conveys Creon’s stubbornness and inability to solve problems with poise and rationality. Antigone already pointed out that Creon’s decision went against the gods, and here when Tiresias warns him again, Creon still refuses to acknowledge his wrongdoing. In this short exchange, Creon shows that he does not fear the consequences of the gods, and will not bend his will “out of fear of this pollution.” Creon’s eyes finally open,