Antigone is a story about listening to your heart rather than abiding by the established law. When her brother is killed in battle, Antigone goes against King Creon's law that forbids anyone to bury him. However, Antigone believes there is a higher law that needs to be recognized. So, she buries her brother, even against the wishes of her sister and the wishes of Creon, but it is what she believes is right. Throughout the story, the idea of whether Antigone's actions are right or wrong is wrestled with. There are two sides, Antigone's and Creon's. Antigone's sister does not support her in her act and Creon's own son is against him as well. It seems blood does not take sides. Interestingly, the Chorus takes the side of Creon, saying "You have passed beyond human daring and come at last into a place of stone where Justice sits....Reverence is a virtue, but strength lives in established law: that must prevail." What defines right and wrong? What makes each character take the sides they take? And when can one throw aside state laws and go by a moral code instead? These are some questions that Antigone sparks.
There is no real answer to this question, I think it varies from person to person. There are times when the law should be taken very seriously and there are times, such as Antigone's situation, where it is necessary to take alternate action. Antigone had to bury her brother or he would have been lost in the Underword.
Creon is displayed as the villan in the story. He has sound leadership qualities and rules as a great king, in terms of his enforcement. The law he made about Polyneices is not necessarily unjust because he was an enemy of the country. However, it was a little harsh to punish Antigone for sprinkling dust over he brother for closure and insurance for him in death. This harsh punishment was what brought his downfall in the end. He, himself was punished with the suicides of three people. Creon, in the end, gets his retribution.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow, this is really inspirational. What does define right and wrong? I certainly do not know, and I agree with you when you said, "There is no real answer to this question." Also I uncoded your title, dnfaoid. That was really clever of you. Have you ever done something others that was wrong, but you thought was right?
ReplyDeleteI think you raise the most central question to the entire play. I guess I agree that there is no "right" answer to this question. But I liked your conclusion and think it answers the question. You're saying that since the "gods" punished Creon the worst, they are in disagreement with him. I think that would make sense based on my limited knowledge of the Greek religious system. Therefore, Sophocles, then, answers the question by saying that familial obligations trump state authority.
ReplyDeleteI love your title Sophie! Very catching... your spelling is intriguing. But onto the blog! I like how you mention that the opinion of Antigone shifts with each person's interpretation. Today in class we had that very discussion around the complete morality of Antigone's actions. Some people said she was right while others believed she was partly wrong. I think this is one of the reasons Antigone is still being talked about today. It is a spark. Does a higher moral code trump the law of the state? Usually the two coincide but what happens when they don't? I like you mention of this higher moral code. Nice work my friend!
ReplyDeleteI really like the ideas you brought up at the end of the first paragraph.
ReplyDeleteI wish you would have expanded more on the idea of a moral code and what makes people pick the sides they do when there are so many relationships at risk!
Good Work!!
Great blog Sophie! The central questions of the play were addressed, which inevitably raised even more questions in my mind. I also found it very interesting when you noted that blood relation seemed irrelevant when individuals "took sides." I would have liked to see you expand more on this concept because it is an interesting aspect of the play.
ReplyDeleteI also have very similar opinions on moral code and justice. I also believe there is no real answer to these difficult problems and these answers vary from case to case. I liked reading your true opinion because it is very much like my own.
Overall, you wrote a well-written thoughtful piece. Congratz Soph!
Well, first off, your title is interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'm just going to make this short and to the point. Yeah, I guess we can't really define who is right or wrong in this situation. Of course everyone is going to have a different opinion, so it is only best that each individual makes their own judgement. It's interesting to see that you didn't really pick a side. Good work.
You raised a very interesting question about whether to abide to the moral code or to what the law demands, and how ultimately it depends on the individual making the decision. I agree with you that Antigone’s disobedience can be justified in this particular situation, because it dealt with the proper burial of someone. On a separate note, I have a similar opinion about Creon, whose initial intention to punish an enemy of the state seemed reasonable, that is, before he felt he was powerful enough to decide that he not be buried at all. Overall, great job on your essay!
ReplyDelete