A “holy” crime is a crime that you commit for a good cause. Both Antigone and Brutus commit a “holy” crime. However, we have to decide whose crime was more holy. To do this we will look at the reasons for why each of them committed their crimes. Antigone’s crime in Antigone, by Sophocles, is more “holy” than Brutus’s crime in Julius Caesar, by Shakespeare, because of her intentions and the reaction of others to her crime.
The reactions of others to Antigone’s crime also helps us to determine its “holiness”. As expressed by Haimon “They say no woman has ever, so unreasonably, / Died so shameful a death for a generous act”(Sophocles Scene 3.63-64) one can see that Antigone’s home city, Thebes, even agreed with her crime. This quote also shows that Antigone committed a crime for a generous act, which is what a “holy” crime is. Furthermore, when Haimon says “everyone / Will tell you only what you like to hear”(Sophocles Scene 3.59-60) this implies that nobody agrees with Creon’s decision to punish Antigone. So, the only person who doesn’t think that Antigone committed a “holy” crime is Creon. Furthermore, even Creon,
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The city of Rome didn’t think that Brutus’s crime was holy. One can tell this since the Roman citizens started to rebel against the fact that Brutus killed Caesar. Therefore, the only people who thought that Brutus’s crime was holy would be Brutus and his fellow conspirators. Even after a while Brutus starts to doubt the “holiness” of his crime, this is expressed by when he says that he “[wishes] / Things done undone”(Shakespeare 4.2.8-9). Furthermore, Even nature itself reacted to Brutus’s crime. It did this by showing strange signs, such as a lion in the streets and people coming back from the dead. This helps show that nature is “out of balance” when the conspirators were getting ready to kill Caesar, which means that even nature is not okay with Brutus’s
Antigone decides to betray Kreon’s law in order to honor the gods and their greater law. She says “you [Kreon], who are human/to violate the lawful traditions/the gods have not written merely, but made infallible,” defending her decision to bury the out-casted Polyneices because the law that prohibits it was not proclaimed by Zeus. When Kreon asks Antigone why she honors Eteokles (her other brother who also dies in the battle in Thebes) and Polyneices equally, she responds “Death is a god/who wants his laws obeyed,” corroborating the motive of why she upheld divine law over Kreon’s law (Sophocles 41). Even Haimon, Kreon’s own son and Antigone’s betrothed, supports Antigone by saying “the gods implant intelligence in humans/…that is the supreme one” (Sophocles 48). However, Antigone’s superior motive in giving Polyneices an honorable death is love. While conferring her plan with her sister, Ismene, Antigone tells her “He’s my brother an yours too/ and whether you will or not, I’ll stand by him,” indicating her love to her brother (Sophocles 22). In addition, Antigone is most direct with her intentions when she says “I am different. I love my brother/and I’m going to go bury him, now” (Sophocles 24). After Kreon asks Antigone why she dared to break his law, knowing the repercussions, she expresses that “if I had left my own brother stay unburied/I would have suffered all the pain I do not feel now,” further denoting her unwavering devotion to Polyneices even during her own conviction. Richard Emil Braun, an highly praised writer, also believes Antigone’s primary motive to bury her brother was love, as he says “The second burial of Polyneices shows that Antigone…did the deed, and not for money, but for love…Antigone was prompted by her love to fulfill a religious duty.” Civil disobedience to Antigone is
Antigone committed a holy crime meaning that even though she went against her state laws, she respected her moral laws and gave her brother the burial he deserved. Antigone took pride in her actions of a generous act and died without shame. Strong relationships whether it’s family, friend, boyfriend or girlfriend all make sacrifices at some point in their lives to better others. If a woman or man dies of a generous act they will never be shameful, but
Antigone’s strength allows her to defend her brother’s honor against Creon, who wants to make a statement about traitors. However, both Antigone and King Creon commit faults while trying to protect the things they love. Antigone should not have died for her beliefs as it puts her loved ones and community in danger, and Creon should not have forbidden the burial of Polyneices as it angers the Gods and causes him great suffering in the end.
... by vultures because she had a strong belief in family honor and the will of the gods, one which as long as no harm is done should be upheld above other laws. There are two competing forms of justice throughout “Antigone” which inform the argument of whether or not Antigone should have followed Creon’s laws through the tension of the city state and the will of the people as well as the gods. Creon’s argument was flawed in his disregard for public opinion and that he overlooked Antigone’s valid argument because of her gender and his pride. Antigone argues that a mortal man cannot override the will of the gods, a valid argument of the times. It is and was crucially important to fully consider the best interest of the citizens that is being voiced at the time of decision making, if it is not taken into consideration the city, as seen in Thebes will fall into shambles.
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. N.d. Print.
In the beginning of the story, we can tell that Antigone starts off at stage five of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development; as stated in the last paragraph. Throughout the story, Antigone faces people who disagree with her decision. In the story, Antigone is caught by Creon’s workers. Antigone is confronted by Creon about breaking the law he created. Creon states “He would: for you honor a traitor as much as him”
In the following paper, I plan to discuss the source of conflict between the title characters of Antigone and Creon in Sophocles’ “Antigone”. I also plan to discuss how each character justifies his or her actions and what arguments they give for their justifications. I will also write about the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments. The final points I try to make are about who Sophocles thinks is right and who I think is right.
Antigone risks her own life to bury her brother, therefore, she goes against Kreon’s edict that Polyneices should be left unburied; she believes Polyneices deserves to reach the afterlife. Antigone tells Ismene, “I will bury him myself. If I die for doing that, good: I will stay with him, my brother; and my crime will be devotion” (Sophocles 23). Antigone is willing to risk her own life by disobeying the king’s authority; She stands up for her religious belief that Polyneices should be buried. Kreon tells Antigone before she takes her own life, “I won’t encourage you. You’ve been condemned” (Sophocles 57). Kreon believes that Antigone’s crime is severe, and righteousness should be used to justify her crime. At this point of the play, Antigone realizes she will be put to death, but she does not regret her act of loyalty. In Antigone’s last speech before she takes her own life, she exclaims, “Land of Thebes, city of my fathers… see what I suffer at my mother’s brother’s hand for an act of loyalty and devotion” (Sophocles 57). Here, Antigone addresses the nation’s leaders and declares that they should notice th...
Antigone had good reasons for her actions. She did obey the rules of her gods, which were that any dead body must be given a proper burial, with libatations. This would prevent the soul from being lost between worlds forever, along with wine as an offering to the gods (page 518- side note). Nor could Antigone let Creon's edicts go against her morals (lines 392-394). She chooses to share her love, not her hate (line 443). She couldn't bare to see one family member be chosen over the other because of what a king had decided was right, which she contravened. Why condemn somebody who stood up for what they believed in and is now dead for it anyway? Bringing homage to the family was very important to Antigone (line 422-423).
Possibly the most prominent theme in Sophocles' "Antigone" is the concept of divine law vs. human law. In the story the two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices have slain each other in battle. The new King Creon, who assumed the throne after Eteocles' death, decrees that because Polyneices committed treason against the king, he shall not be buried, but instead "He shall be left unburied for all to watch
In Sophocles’ Antigone, the most prominent theme is the concept of divine law versus human law. The play opens with the debate between the sisters Antigone and Ismene concerning which law comes first- the devout obligations of citizens, or civic duty. Antigone requests for Ismene to assist her in burying their brother Polyneices, though the new king Creon, has prohibited burial on pain of death. It can be argued that Creon’s edict, which deprived Polyneices of his funeral rites, is understandable. The young man had been killed perpetrating the most atrocious crime of which a citizen could be guilty, and Creon, as the responsible head of state, naturally supposed that exemplary punishment was the culprit’s right...
Antigone offers several justifications for disregarding Creon's law concerning her brother's burial. A few of them are considerably substantial arguments, others are not. For instance, her arguments on Human Morality, and Religious law, are perfectly valid. However, her arguments on Heroism and, since he is her brother and not replaceable, seem, not quite so valid. But, even if we don't consider Antigone's arguments in this matter, is her action right? After all, she completely disregarded and disobeyed Creon's law in this matter, and afterwards, defied him to prove that she was wrong. Usually, disobeying state law has every right in being punished justly. Speaking rudely to any court official, judge or monarch, can earn trouble. For instance, in Antigone's case, it only served to hasten her youthful death. However, the particular law, she disregarded, was
In the beginning of Antigone, we see Antigone struggling with the conflicting expectations between divine law and man’s law. The problem throughout the play is Antigone is a believer in divine law while Creon is a believer in man’s law. In the first scene, Antigone tells her sister that she will defy Creon’s law and bury her brother. Antigone says, “He has no right to keep me from my own” (Sophocles 1008). She believes in divine law even if it means breaking man’s law. Creon commanded no one to bury her brother. Antigone knows it is not the right choice according to divine law and she should be able to bury her own brother, but Creon believes no one should break the law he has put before everyone. Ismene replies, “ The law is strong, we must give in to the law, in this thing and in worse. I bet the dead to forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield to those in authority” (Sophocles 1009). Antigone ...
Antigone begins the play by expressing her willingness to die while burying her brother. Like any revolutionary or individual defying the law, she is certain her cause is not only good but worth dying for. However, at the same time, Antigone acknowledges her plan as foolish, perhaps because she may likely die as well. This would not be the worst of deaths, she argues, because she would die honorably. Surely this honor will not be from Thebes or Creon, whom she is disobeying, but most likely from an even greater source...the gods.
...e murder because of his jealousy of Caesar's elevated power and mounting dominance over everyone, even his friends. Though they were close friends, their motives and descriptive character traits display a distinct contrast between them.