Sophocles’ Antigone raises the argument that it is better to honor the laws of a god rather than adhere to the laws of man. This debate arises through the actions of Antigone, who by disobeying Kreon’s edict to not bury Polynieces, believes that she honors the gods by burying her fallen brother. This conflict causes the audience to ponder which of the two characters deserves their sympathy since both suffer serve losses by the end of the tragedy. However, Antigone earns the sympathy of the audience opposed to the deplorable Kreon due to her cursed background and moral adherence, which juxtaposes Kreon’s condemnable hubris and poor kingship.
Antigone earns the sympathy of the audience because of her accursed background. She was born of an “ill-fated mother who slept with her own son, my father! Such was my unhappy birth.” (Sophocles 56). Since this unfortunate series of events the line of Oedipus, Antigone’s father, has been cursed. Due to the curse, Oedipus gouged out his eyes and went …show more content…
The ending of the tragedy results in Antigone losing her life, while Kreon loses his son and wife. Thus, they both compete for the audience’s remorse; however, the competition for remorse is the audience’s final test to see which argument was correct regarding the burial of Polynieces. If Kreon had won the audience’s sympathy it would show that he was correct that the traitor Polynieces should not be buried, because he broke the laws of man. However, since the audience feels more for Antigone it is her belief that the laws of gods are more important than the laws of men which proves triumphant. Thus, it is through the juxtaposition of Antigone and Kreon that Sophocles reveal that it is more important to follow one’s moral beliefs when they are compromised by the laws of
Antigone earns the sympathy of the audience because of her accursed background. She was born of an “ill-fated mother who slept with her own son, my father! Such was my unhappy birth.” (Sophocles 56). Since this unfortunate series of events the line of Oedipus, Antigone’s father, has been cursed. Due to the curse, Oedipus gouged out his eyes and went …show more content…
The ending of the tragedy results in Antigone losing her life, while Kreon loses his son and wife. Thus, they both compete for the audience’s remorse; however, the competition for remorse is the audience’s final test to see which argument was correct regarding the burial of Polynieces. If Kreon had won the audience’s sympathy it would show that he was correct that the traitor Polynieces should not be buried, because he broke the laws of man. However, since the audience feels more for Antigone it is her belief that the laws of gods are more important than the laws of men which proves triumphant. Thus, it is through the juxtaposition of Antigone and Kreon that Sophocles reveal that it is more important to follow one’s moral beliefs when they are compromised by the laws of