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
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”
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).
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
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’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 story of Antigone deals with Antigone’s brother who’s body has been left unburied because of crimes against the state. The sight of her brother being unburied drives Antigone to take action against the state and bury her brother regardless of the consequences. The concept of the Greek afterlife was far more important and sacred than living life itself. Everything they did while they were alive was to please the many gods they worshipped. They built temples for their Gods, made statues to symbolize their Gods, and had a different God to explain things that we now say are an act of mother nature. Antigone percieved her actions to be courageous and valid, and Kreone, the King, percieved them as blasphemous. The entire story focuses on deciding who’s right. The question arises, "Did Antigone take proper action?" Was it right to go against her Uncle Kreon’s wishes and go ahead and bury her brother that was to be left out for the vultures? Would it have been better just to leave the situation how it was? The fact is, Antigone did the right thing. She was acting out of divine influence so to speak. Since divinity and humanity are shown to be colliding forces where divinity out weighs humanity in ancient Greece. Antigone was justified in her actions.
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.
Having already been through public disgrace, when her own father, Oedipus found out that he was to fulfill a prophecy; he would kill his father and marry his mother, and this caused Antigone to be full of resentment toward her city. Both of her brothers die in a battle and, Creon, the king of Thebes forbids the burial of one of her brothers, Polynices. This must have driven Antigone to follow her moral law. Considering the love she had for her family as well as her God, she felt that you react upon morals not upon the laws of man. That morale law was to honor her brother and give him the respectful and proper burial that he deserved just as her other brother was given. The love she had for her family was the only thing she had left to honor. Ismene, Antigone’s sister was more fearful of the king’s law then the way her heart was leading her. Her values were slightly distorted.
This is the Crux of the theme, the conflict between the law of King Creon, and the law of the gods. In fact, according to Greek belief, Creon would have been ordained by the gods to be king, and thus, should not his law be their law as well? This is the hurdle that Antigone has to face; should she abide by the law of Creon and leave her brother to rot, under penalty of death? Or should she disregard Creon's edict, follow the law of the gods and bury her brother? Creon is a brother to Jocasta, and thus next in line to become king after Etocles is killed in battle. The king is believed to be the chosen of the gods and to rule in their stead. Why then would the king attempt to punish Polyneices after death and so blatantly violate the rules of the gods? However, Creon is the king, and the penalty for disobeying this law of his is very real and very brutal, death.
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. N.d. Print.
Antigone welcomed death at the time of burying her brother; she was not concerned with the consequences. She saw her actions as being true to the gods and religion. “I myself will bury him. It will be good to die, so doing. I shall lie by his side, loving him as he loved me; I shall be a criminal but – a religious one.” (Antigone, lines 81-85) To Antigone, the honor of her brother, and her family was all that was important. She may be going against Creon, but if her actions were true in her heart then the gods would see her in a good light.
Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. Elements of Literature. Ed. Edwina McMahon et al. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1997.
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
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.