Sophocles’ play, Antigone wrestles with the moral dilemma of whether following one’s personal morality is right, or following the laws of the government is morally superior. Many say that the play never fully states which is correct. In the second chorus, the citizens state that adhering laws is morally superior to actions that are prompted by recklessness. The second chorus of Antigone, those who uphold laws are seen as morally superior to those who are reckless and follow their personal moral code. This sentiment is echoed throughout the entirety of the play. Sophocles shows that in order to be of high regard and standing, one must follow the laws of the earth, and also shows that those who disregard this are often ostracized. Sophocles
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Additionally, recklessness is any behavior that is against the law. Antigone’s action was judged to be reckless and resulted in her demise because she acted against the law. Although in her judgment, she was acting as any rational and loving sister would, her act is met with disapproval by Ismene immediately, because Ismene believes the rationality of the town. Actions that do not follow the laws are viewed as unthinkable. People who perform these actions are so ostracized that even sharing thoughts with them is undesirable: “He who is so, may he never share my hearth! May he never think my thoughts” (373-375). The complete abhorrence of any person who flaunts the law is obvious throughout the last piece of the second chorus. This abhorrence helps to explain why the play ended so …show more content…
This opinion was that those who were enemies of the laws were to be ostracized, whereas those who upheld the law were honored. This is proved through the description within the second chorus, which showed the distinction between following one’s personal morals versus following the law of the land. Following one’s personal morals, as Antigone did, would leave one without any standing in society, and like Antigone, be subject to punishment. Through Antigone, Sophocles juxtaposed the moral dilemma of whether following one’s personal moral code or following the government’s law is
Additionally, recklessness is any behavior that is against the law. Antigone’s action was judged to be reckless and resulted in her demise because she acted against the law. Although in her judgment, she was acting as any rational and loving sister would, her act is met with disapproval by Ismene immediately, because Ismene believes the rationality of the town. Actions that do not follow the laws are viewed as unthinkable. People who perform these actions are so ostracized that even sharing thoughts with them is undesirable: “He who is so, may he never share my hearth! May he never think my thoughts” (373-375). The complete abhorrence of any person who flaunts the law is obvious throughout the last piece of the second chorus. This abhorrence helps to explain why the play ended so …show more content…
This opinion was that those who were enemies of the laws were to be ostracized, whereas those who upheld the law were honored. This is proved through the description within the second chorus, which showed the distinction between following one’s personal morals versus following the law of the land. Following one’s personal morals, as Antigone did, would leave one without any standing in society, and like Antigone, be subject to punishment. Through Antigone, Sophocles juxtaposed the moral dilemma of whether following one’s personal moral code or following the government’s law is