According to Webster Dictionary, justice is defined as the quality of being just, impartial, or fair. This definition has been formed based off of many different perspectives from literature throughout history, beginning with the poets and tragedians in ancient Greece. Although they lived in similar areas and eras, writers of Greek mythology had different perspectives on the definition and enforcement of justice in their time. Readers see in The Libation Bearers that Aeschylus believes the gods have an active role in administering justice, done so in the form of revenge, which outweighs any problems brought to society. In contrast, Sophocles is unsure of who should enforce justice but comes to the realization that it can be less important than
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By comparing “violence to the law” with giving “commands to those who are in power,” Kreon’s outlook that these two actions deserve equal punishment reveals Sophocles’ idea that justice serves the king absolutely. By focusing on the city and its leader, Sophocles finds justice due to personal interests falls behind what is best for the public. By stating “in just things and the opposite,” Kreon makes it clear that regardless of whether an action is just or not, if it is not going to benefit the city, mostly in regards to benefitting the king himself, then the action is …show more content…
Since he kept “company with what is not fine” by sending Antigone to her death for an act that the gods consider just, he becomes “citiless” with all of the people closest to him gone. The fact that the character that wants divine control and the character that believes in human jurisdiction are both worse off in the end shows Sophocles’ uncertainty in who should enforce justice absolutely. Instead, Sophocles may believe there should be a mix of the two that will keep order. If Kreon and Antigone worked together somehow combining a burial for Polyneices while keeping Kreon’s power intact, both godly and mortal justice would be enforced and the characters would be satisfied with the
By comparing “violence to the law” with giving “commands to those who are in power,” Kreon’s outlook that these two actions deserve equal punishment reveals Sophocles’ idea that justice serves the king absolutely. By focusing on the city and its leader, Sophocles finds justice due to personal interests falls behind what is best for the public. By stating “in just things and the opposite,” Kreon makes it clear that regardless of whether an action is just or not, if it is not going to benefit the city, mostly in regards to benefitting the king himself, then the action is …show more content…
Since he kept “company with what is not fine” by sending Antigone to her death for an act that the gods consider just, he becomes “citiless” with all of the people closest to him gone. The fact that the character that wants divine control and the character that believes in human jurisdiction are both worse off in the end shows Sophocles’ uncertainty in who should enforce justice absolutely. Instead, Sophocles may believe there should be a mix of the two that will keep order. If Kreon and Antigone worked together somehow combining a burial for Polyneices while keeping Kreon’s power intact, both godly and mortal justice would be enforced and the characters would be satisfied with the