Antigone - Moral Law V.S Political Law.

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Antigone

-Moral Law V.S Political Law-

        In Sophocles’ play Antigone, the tragedy is brought by the conflict between the moral laws and manmade political laws. Neither Kreon nor Antigone is clearly “right” or “wrong”. In other words they are both “right” and “wrong”. The moral laws are essential to keep faith in one’s heart and have strength in oneself. Political laws help determine what is just and unjust to prevent the chaos that might occur if everyone did what they think is right. Kreon and Antigone exhibit both their negative and positive qualities throughout the play.

        Antigone is a strong, courageous character and she has no fear towards death. She believes that the burial of Eteokles must take place because she loves her brother, and family royalty is very important to her. For example she says:

“I love my brother and I’m going to bury him, now.” -Pg.24 lines 100-1

Antigone’s motivation towards her brother causes her to take her actions. She considers that one’s family love is the factor that must be valued over every thing else. Antigone is also extremely determined, and is not easily convinced by other people. At first Antigone asks her sister, Ismene to join her in the burying but after Ismene refuses to take part in the action, she immediately makes her mind to carry out the burying on her own. Even her one and only sister’s pleas does not convince her. Antigone’s one other reason for carrying out the burial is her respect towards the gods. She believes that the gods requires the burial for the dead and they would not be pleased by the fact that a dead body was left in the public, unburied. If a body is left unburied, the soul will not reach the under world and the soul will remain in the world of the men. This will disturb the nether gods as well as the gods high up. So by not burying Eteokles, one will be dishonoring the gods. Antigone states:

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“If you believe you must,

cast out these principles gods themselves honor.”- Pg.24 lines 96-7

This is the action which the gods wish for, so they must be taken place. Their laws must be followed because gods are superior amongst all human beings.

        The moral laws which Antigone values are essential in this case because Kreon shows many negative qualities which make him appear as a tyrant king. He misuses power and abuses power. Kreon considers that a state belongs to the most powerful man, which in this case is him. He says:

“Nations belong to the men ...

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