Law in Antigone Essay

The Right Law

In the play, Antigone, written by Sophacles, we understand the issues that Antigone and Creon have between them are what ties this whole play together, and the theme is also developed with the use of their issues between each other and what they believe in. King Creon and Antigone were each driven on their own belief of Human rights vs Divine rights. (central idea). This ongoing debate between Divine and Human rights is motivated by each characters pride.

Antigones pride ultimately led her to make the decision to her death. Antigone felt that her Divine rights gave her the right to bury her brother. Divine rights are those that are right morally in accordance to the law of god. With her pride and loyalty towards her family and divine views she is driven to save her brothers corpse. For example,

But when my mother's son lay dead, had I

Neglected him and left him there unburied,

That would have caused me grief; this causes none.

And if you think it folly, then perhaps

I am accused of folly by the fool. (Lines 455-459)

Due to her stronger belief in divine laws she was punished by King Creon for disobeying the human laws he had created. She was placed in a cave left for dead. She realized she was going to be starved to death, therefore ended up killing herself. Her strong pride in the belief of Divine rights was her fate in the story.

Creons ongoing pride in human law puts him in a position opposite of what he desired. An example of human law is, I now possess the throne and all its powers. No, he must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, an obscenity for the citizens to behold (1272). This quote shows the Kings strong stance on not burying the traitor (Antigones Brother). We also take note that Antigone is his sons wife, there fore making Polyneices family. The Kings ongoing pride takes a wrong turn when he later finds out that sentencing Antigone to death wasnt the best decision. The story takes a turn when his wife and son are taken from him. He states his guilt, I have killed my son and wife (Scene 5, Line 135). He knows that his pride has taken him too far and he has lost everything. From having full confidence in his own human rights, he realizes his love of family was lost for the expense of man laws. As Creon says, To risk everything for stubborn pride (Scene 5, Line 93). This shows how he ended up exactly opposite of what his loyalty to human rights would lead him.

In conclusion, it seems that Antigone's side of this whole conflict was more "right" than wrong. Antigone was only following what she believed in, by giving her brother Polyneices a proper burial despite what the human law set up by Creon had specifically stated. There should be a point where both sides, divine law and human law, should be looked at with an open mind, because many times conflict occurs over which side should be taken. I believe that divine law should be highly regarded, but I also believe that the laws set up by man should be acknowledged and followed, with the exception of foolish laws that are set up, such as the law that King Creon made up. One must carefully weigh out divine law and human law if they are put in a situation where one of the sides must be taken.