Civil Disobedience In Antigone

If you have ever watched the news, you have an idea about what civil disobedience is. During The Great Depression, US workers lined up to help stop job loss and pay cuts. People were supporting industrial workers and trying to help with the issue by having signs and going against the government and law. That’s exactly what civil disobedience is; to contravene the government or law usually for a good purpose. In the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone shows she is a model of disobedience. She shows it by not doing it for her name to be out there and to get attention. Antigone had two brothers and a sister. Ismene was her introvert sister who followed every rule in the book. She was the antithesis of Antigone. Eteocles was the ‘hero’ that everyone was proud of and enjoyed being around. He was killed in the battle for the control of Thebes with his brother Polyneices. Polyneices was seen as a traitor that Creon would not allow anyone to bury. If they were caught burying him, they would be punished by death. Antigone was furious with this and went against this law. She states, “I knew I must die, even without your decree: I am only mortal.” She knew the consequence of death but felt it was nothing compared to what would happen if he were left there for wild dogs and birds

She is speaking to Creon after he declares the proclamation with power and bravery. He spoke out to her, “And yet you dared to defy the law,” after she had clarified hearing his speech. “I dared. It was not God’s proclamation. That final Justice That rules the world below makes no such laws… But all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal unrecorded laws of God.” Antigone was not going to deny the gods so she could follow Creon. The town may have been with him, but she did not care what they thought about her. She would do what she knew was right even if it meant