Breaking The Law Revealed In Sophocles Antigone

In Sophocles’s Antigone, Antigone, who was mourning for her diseased brother, morally believed it was right to break the law and bury him. Antigone tries to get her sister, Ismene, to help her in the act of burying their brother, but she refuses (Sophocles). Ismene states that she cannot break the law, or disrespect her citizenship by burying him (Sophocles). Their brother, Polyneices, was treated unfairly by not being buried alongside with his brother Eteocles, who Creon, the King, allowed a burial and respected farewell for. Creon strictly rules the city in a negative way, and control those in the city to what he believes is right. He does this by threatening to kill anyone that disobeys his laws.
For the historical text, written by Richard C. Jebb, …show more content…
When Antigone buried her diseased brother, she did it knowing it was against the law, but believing it was the right thing to do. In the beginning of the play, Antigone shows sympathy for her brother who is legally not allowed to be buried, but also anger towards Creon for making this law. She states, “But the unhappy corpse of Polyneices he has proclaimed to all the citizens, they say, no man may hide in a grave or funeral, but leave unwept, unburied, a dainty treasure, for the birds that see him, for their feasts delight,” explaining that Creon has told the people of the city that Polyneices is to rot and have his corpse eaten by the animals (Sophocles). Creon shows hate towards Polyneices for saying this, by telling the people of the city that Polyneices shall rot and be forgotten without anyone respecting his death and giving him a funeral or burial (Sophocles). Creon then states, “For Eteocles, who died the city’s champion, showing his valor’s supremacy everywhere, he shall be buried in his grave with every rite of sanctity given to heroes under earth,” explaining that the other brother did get buried and respected after he passed away (Sophocles). This story depicts