Antigone, the title character of Sophocles' Antigone, faces the moral dilemma of whether to honor divine or mortal laws. While King Creon decreed “no one shall bury [Polyneices],” the laws of the Gods dictate that all corpses must be buried (Prologue. 20). As such, the issue at hand is much more complex than simply considering religion or legal aspects: Antigone must also consider familial loyalty to her brother Polyneices. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay She repeatedly references her duty as a sister and ultimately chooses to bury Polyneices, giving up her own life if necessary. Antigone believes she is right, as she defends her religious beliefs and protects her family, so she willingly neglects any responsibilities she may have as a law-abiding citizen. While defending her disobedience to the king, Antigone appeals to her personal responsibility towards the family. She claims to be a “true sister,” as opposed to the “traitor” Ismene who is reluctant to break the law, even for her brother's soul (1, 27). The use of diction with such strong connotations, such as the resounding condemnation of the “traitor,” reveals Antigone's extreme, black and white view of the situation (1. 27). He takes his obligations so seriously that he states that he "would have to suffer" if he abandoned Polyneices (2.71). Furthermore, the aforementioned suffering would be a consequence not only of her failures as a sister, but also of her "transgressions". ] [of] the laws of heaven” (4. 80). Such a religious undertone permeates Antigone's argument in support of her brother's burial. He fiercely defends the belief that "there are honors due to all the dead" and therefore has a responsibility to uphold the commands of the Gods (2. 113). Her dedication to religion is intertwined with a sense of duty to her brother, and reinforces Antigone's decision to bury Polyneices. Antigone goes so far as to declare that "this crime is holy", thus implying some sort of righteous crusade, yet the word "crime" reveals her awareness that it is still an illicit act (1. 56). Here lies another aspect of Antigone's attitude. responsibility. She also has a duty, as a citizen and as a niece, to obey the laws of her uncle Creon. His deliberate defiance is a criminal act. Furthermore, both his actions and his words show an arrogance in his attitude towards authority. She glibly states that the King's "strength is weakness" compared to the "immortal and unrecorded laws of God" (2.60-61). The comment disdains Creon's power as a ruler and demonstrates his unwillingness to uphold his law. While she asks for death, telling Creon to “kill her” since her “talking is a great weariness,” she also shows a notable lack of respect for human life and the gravity of death (2, 94-95). What he fails to recognize is that his apparent martyrdom is not a solution, and his rebellious act will discredit Creon's authority. Creon himself notes that if his own family ignores his will, it will be impossible to earn "the obedience of the world" (3. 30-31). In her obstinacy, Antigone refuses to truly consider this consequence. He ignores the impact on Creon and the rest of the citizens when he focuses solely on the burial of Polyneices. In this way, Antigone deliberately decides where her responsibilities primarily lie: with her brother and with religion. Likewise, Antigone's choice has a dramatic impact on several characters, thus influencing the “community” at large. There is an effect a (5. 107)..
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