Antigone is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles. It is the story of Antigone’s last days and what leads to her death. Creon and Antigone have opposite opinions on the burial of Antigone’s brother Polynices. Because Polynices was a traitor and fought against Thebes with Argos, Creon believes he does not deserve a burial. Yet, Antigone still loves her brother and believes the gods would want her to bury him. Although Creon’s perspective on the burial of Polynices is justified, Antigone has the more valid moral position. Despite Antigone having ample motive for burying Polynices, the manner in which Creon acts is understandable. Creon is devoted to keeping Thebes an organized and civil state. He wants to portray to the Thebans that treason
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In the time of Sophocles, the afterlife was strongly believed in and burial was extremely important to appease the gods. Antigone believes that pleasing the gods is more important than following the laws of mortals: “an outrage sacred to the gods! I have longer/ to please the dead than please the living… Do as you like, dishonor the laws/ the gods hold in honor” (88-92). Antigone holds the law of the gods higher than the law of man, which is respectable. Antigone has already lost almost everyone she cares about, her brothers are dead as well as her parents. The only person who she has left is Ismene, who is too scared to help Antigone. She has already felt as much pain as she believes is possible, causing her fear of death to vanish.
Antigone is ultimately burying Polynices because of her love for him and the rest of her family. Her parents have already died, and her two brothers died at the hands of each other. Eteocles has already been buried, but Polynices’ corpse is lying in open air being attacked by scavengers. Antigone reacts how most people would, she would’ve broken any law to pay her respects to Polynices. The sacredness of Antigone’s siblinghood with Polynices is one of the only things she has left, and with dead parents she’ll never have another
In the time of Sophocles, the afterlife was strongly believed in and burial was extremely important to appease the gods. Antigone believes that pleasing the gods is more important than following the laws of mortals: “an outrage sacred to the gods! I have longer/ to please the dead than please the living… Do as you like, dishonor the laws/ the gods hold in honor” (88-92). Antigone holds the law of the gods higher than the law of man, which is respectable. Antigone has already lost almost everyone she cares about, her brothers are dead as well as her parents. The only person who she has left is Ismene, who is too scared to help Antigone. She has already felt as much pain as she believes is possible, causing her fear of death to vanish.
Antigone is ultimately burying Polynices because of her love for him and the rest of her family. Her parents have already died, and her two brothers died at the hands of each other. Eteocles has already been buried, but Polynices’ corpse is lying in open air being attacked by scavengers. Antigone reacts how most people would, she would’ve broken any law to pay her respects to Polynices. The sacredness of Antigone’s siblinghood with Polynices is one of the only things she has left, and with dead parents she’ll never have another