Examples Of Civil Disobedience In Antigone

Derynn Powers

Professor Chapman

102 JC

01 April 2018

Antigone On the journey to examine the term civil disobedience, history provides numerous examples to look at throughout various cultures and time. From the swing of the civil rights era, all the way to modern day society, civil disobedience provides individuals with a voice to speak out against injustices as they break established laws. One of the earliest portrayals of civil disobedience can be seen in the play Antigone, written by Sophocles in the fifth century. Antigone, the main character of the play willfully publicizes her transgressions against King Creon’s law. The term disobedience, within itself, develops a negative connotation, but Antigone reveals that civil disobedience can be

Antigone exhibits complete and utter defiance toward the rule of her time. In an act of civil disobedience, she disobeys a decree put forth by the King of Thebes, ordering that her brother Polyneices not be given a proper burial, or any burial at all for that matter. This new decree disregards the divine laws of the Gods, depriving someone their right to a proper burial. It was thought back in ancient Greek times that a proper burial was necessary in order to move onto the next life, and depriving Polyneices of this particular right was immoral and disrespectful to, not only the Gods, but his loved ones. Antigone decides she will not stand by this unjust ruling and although denied help from her sister Ismene, goes out to commit the ultimate act of civil disobedience by giving Polyneices a proper burial. She did this act not once, but twice. She did not care about being seen by the soldiers, as she believes she is morally justified and bound by family duty to give her brother the proper burial he deserves. She is aware of the consequences that could occur if she is caught, but to Antigone, her moral values are far more important. She believes that, if sentenced to death,