Differences Between Antigone And Creon

Antigone, a famous tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright, Sophocles, follows after the civil war between the two sons of Oedipus. In the war, the two sons of Oedipus, Eteokles and Polynices fight for the throne, but by each other’s hands, both sons die. Due to their brotherly feud, Eteokles and Polynices’s uncle, Creon takes upon the role of becoming the new king of Thebes. As a new king, Creon creates a law forbidding the burial of Polyneices, the brother who attacked Thebes. Polyneices, the exile who rebelled against Thebes. Meanwhile, Eteokles, who defended the country from the attack, would be honoured with a proper burial. He furthermore stated, if the body of Polynices were to be buried by someone, the burier must be executed. This law, however, is disobeyed by the daughter of Oedipus, Antigone, whose values were a contrast to Creon. Antigone’s value system contrasted Creon’s values throughout the play. However, all these conflicts were worsened, because Antigone is a woman and is refusing the traditional passive role of

Because Creon was new to the throne, he wanted people to have more fear against him to not let people underestimate him.He did not want his authority to be questioned or to be overlooked. ]

The creation of the law went against Antigone’s values. Antigone valued the divine law with deep respect and believes that the divine law supersedes Creon’s law. Throughout the play, Antigone’s perspective on the divine law is illustrated to be very powerful:

I didn’t suppose your decree had strength enough, or you, who are human, to violate the lawful traditions the gods have not written merely, but made infallible.

These laws are not for now or for yesterday, they are alive forever; and no one knows when they were shown to us first.

I did not intend to pay, before the gods, for breaking these laws because of my fear of one man and his principles.