In Jean Anouilh’s interpretation of the Sophocles play, Antigone, individuals should follow moral law due to the severe corruptness of the state, and the need for the reinstitution of justice and equality. For example, when arguing with Antigone, Creon reveals the truth about Eteocles and Polynices, when he says “You think you know it but you don’t. No one in Thebes knows except me… But it was necessary to make a hero out of one of them, so I had men seek out their bodies… I gave orders for whichever corpse was less damaged to be scraped together for my national obsequies. And for the other to be left to rot. And I assure you I don’t care” (43-44). Creon demonstrates his crooked practices when he reveals the lie he has been keeping from
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When Creon says that he can “get rid of the guards”, he means that he possesses sole power of Thebes, and that he can bend his own laws to get what he wants. The repetition of Creon’s unethical, tyrannical rule, proves that the state government is not making decisions in the people’s best interests, underlining lack of decent moral law in the current institution. Furthermore, as Creon is negotiating with Antigone to stop her unlawful actions and listen to him, she retorts, “I don’t want to. It’s very well for you, but I’m not here to understand. I’m here to say no to you and to die” (40). When Antigone uses the phrase “but I’m not here to understand,” she is saying that she does not want to have her beliefs tested or changed, she wants to stick to what she thinks is right regardless of what others say. Anouilh interprets Antigone as a strong character, in the sense that she sticks to her morals and does the best she can for herself and the ones she loves, proving that she risks death to give her brother the respect he deserves, keeping her moral law in the right place. Ultimately, Jean Anouilh teaches us to follow moral law over civil law, which is demonstrated by the courageous actions of Antigone and the unscrupulous actions of King Creon and his unjust
When Creon says that he can “get rid of the guards”, he means that he possesses sole power of Thebes, and that he can bend his own laws to get what he wants. The repetition of Creon’s unethical, tyrannical rule, proves that the state government is not making decisions in the people’s best interests, underlining lack of decent moral law in the current institution. Furthermore, as Creon is negotiating with Antigone to stop her unlawful actions and listen to him, she retorts, “I don’t want to. It’s very well for you, but I’m not here to understand. I’m here to say no to you and to die” (40). When Antigone uses the phrase “but I’m not here to understand,” she is saying that she does not want to have her beliefs tested or changed, she wants to stick to what she thinks is right regardless of what others say. Anouilh interprets Antigone as a strong character, in the sense that she sticks to her morals and does the best she can for herself and the ones she loves, proving that she risks death to give her brother the respect he deserves, keeping her moral law in the right place. Ultimately, Jean Anouilh teaches us to follow moral law over civil law, which is demonstrated by the courageous actions of Antigone and the unscrupulous actions of King Creon and his unjust