When looking at the Sophocle’s Antigone, there are multiple ideas on the notions of law, law of human and law of the divine. Though there are opinions as to which of the two is the most powerful, the text supports divine law as being the most influential law in the characters’ lives.
Divine law is what many of the citizen’s feel is the most significant law, the law they feel they must follow, despite any consequences they may face. Divine law is the law of the gods, whatever they will is what must be done. One of the most sacred laws of the gods is that every man has a right to a proper burial no matter his standing as friend or foe. Creon, the King of Thebes, is set in his rule of denying Polyneices a proper burial because of his betrayal …show more content…
Divine law is harder for the citizens to follow. It takes blind faith to create a strong following since there is not a physical being there to encourage belief. A lack of presence can lead to a weak spirituality and people could stray from the gods will. The biggest example is Creon himself, he as the leader of Thebes should be leading by example, but he chose to forge his own path and create his own law. Though he did truly have the best interest in mind, he made the wrong choices and was “at odds with justice.” (Sophocles Ln.755) He swayed from the rule of the gods and it is something that can happen very easily if the presence of law is not directly in front of …show more content…
Odysseus is on his journey home, however a god, Poseidon, willed for his journey to be long and ultimately not reach home. The other gods don’t agree with Poseidon and try and help Odysseus with his journey. Even when he does finally reach his home he knows he has to leave soon to appease Poseidon, “…until I come to people who do not know what the sea is…and preform holy sacrifices to King Poseidon…” (Homer Bk.23 Ln.238-245). Odysseus has power in his home Ithaca, but instead of making his own will he follows the gods. The citizens follow the gods will even if they are not enthused, by showing hospitality to everyone. In this tale the divine and human law coincide with less conflict than we see in
Divine law is what many of the citizen’s feel is the most significant law, the law they feel they must follow, despite any consequences they may face. Divine law is the law of the gods, whatever they will is what must be done. One of the most sacred laws of the gods is that every man has a right to a proper burial no matter his standing as friend or foe. Creon, the King of Thebes, is set in his rule of denying Polyneices a proper burial because of his betrayal …show more content…
Divine law is harder for the citizens to follow. It takes blind faith to create a strong following since there is not a physical being there to encourage belief. A lack of presence can lead to a weak spirituality and people could stray from the gods will. The biggest example is Creon himself, he as the leader of Thebes should be leading by example, but he chose to forge his own path and create his own law. Though he did truly have the best interest in mind, he made the wrong choices and was “at odds with justice.” (Sophocles Ln.755) He swayed from the rule of the gods and it is something that can happen very easily if the presence of law is not directly in front of …show more content…
Odysseus is on his journey home, however a god, Poseidon, willed for his journey to be long and ultimately not reach home. The other gods don’t agree with Poseidon and try and help Odysseus with his journey. Even when he does finally reach his home he knows he has to leave soon to appease Poseidon, “…until I come to people who do not know what the sea is…and preform holy sacrifices to King Poseidon…” (Homer Bk.23 Ln.238-245). Odysseus has power in his home Ithaca, but instead of making his own will he follows the gods. The citizens follow the gods will even if they are not enthused, by showing hospitality to everyone. In this tale the divine and human law coincide with less conflict than we see in