Natural will and political order have always been conflicting ideas in society. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, both of these are shown through the two main characters, Creon and Antigone. Creon, the straightforward lawmaker, sides with the law of states and fate to be the only path worth following. While Antigone, the free willed heroine, sides with divine law, letting her free will decide her fate. Both sides do have positive lights to shine on their ideals, but Creon’s over zealous attitude towards the law is what forged his downfall. Antigone represents true justice, not by law but by natural right, and disengages true oppression in a both honorable and haunting way. In the beginning of the play, Antigone arrives in Thebes and finds
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Antigone is a representation of humanity in society, showing the ability to do the morally right thing even through adversity. Asking if a “mortal could override the unwritten and unfailing statutes of heaven” shows the problem with Creon’s ideals, implying that he has more authority than the Gods. But Creon is a stern and stubborn man, disregarding Antigone’s words, he sentences her to death and locks her in prison. At this point, Haemon, Teiresias, and the chorus all plead with Creon to let her go. Here, the viewer begins to see Creon’s hubris falling apart. He realizes that the law of man can only be taken so far, and that Antigone does not deserve the fate he has brought onto her. The viewer sees that Creon is accepting his role in humanity, not by becoming greater than the gods, but by realizing free will is a choice everyone has. In the end, Creon grudgingly decides to let Antigone go. But after his realization, all hope is lost in when he discovers Antigone, Haemon, and his wife have all killed themselves. With this ending, it is shown that even in captivation, Antigone is able to show her free will and divine fate to its fullest form through killing herself. She realizes that it would be better to go out on her own terms, than to continue to suffer through the life under authority of Creon. Creon also experience a full breakdown, realizing the errors that he has made as a lawmaker and a man of the
Antigone is a representation of humanity in society, showing the ability to do the morally right thing even through adversity. Asking if a “mortal could override the unwritten and unfailing statutes of heaven” shows the problem with Creon’s ideals, implying that he has more authority than the Gods. But Creon is a stern and stubborn man, disregarding Antigone’s words, he sentences her to death and locks her in prison. At this point, Haemon, Teiresias, and the chorus all plead with Creon to let her go. Here, the viewer begins to see Creon’s hubris falling apart. He realizes that the law of man can only be taken so far, and that Antigone does not deserve the fate he has brought onto her. The viewer sees that Creon is accepting his role in humanity, not by becoming greater than the gods, but by realizing free will is a choice everyone has. In the end, Creon grudgingly decides to let Antigone go. But after his realization, all hope is lost in when he discovers Antigone, Haemon, and his wife have all killed themselves. With this ending, it is shown that even in captivation, Antigone is able to show her free will and divine fate to its fullest form through killing herself. She realizes that it would be better to go out on her own terms, than to continue to suffer through the life under authority of Creon. Creon also experience a full breakdown, realizing the errors that he has made as a lawmaker and a man of the