moralant Moral Law vs. Civil Law in in Sophocles' Antigone

Moral Law vs. Civil Law in Antigone

In the case of Antigone versus the state, she chose to follow moral

law, or God's law if you will. Ultimately she felt that His law was right,

and the civil government had no right to say who does and who does not

have the right to a proper burial. People make decisions everyday in

accordance with God's laws or the governments laws. They make a choice

between the two, and they go with it. It's decided upon according to what

they believe is right.

Antigone based her decisions solely on her beliefs that she felt

within her heart. She followed through with her actions, prepared to face

the consequences, knowing what they would be. This shows that Antigone is

courageous and passionate in her beliefs. She felt that the law of the

land was unjust and she couldn't let the soul of her brother suffer

because of injustice. Many citizens backer her up on her decision.

Creon's son, Haemon, even told his father what they thought. He said,

"The people feel sorry for Antigone. They say it isn't equitable that she

must die." God spoke to her and she acted upon the support of a loved one.

She did what she did knowing would smile upon her and the dead would

welcome her.

Creon is what the civil law is. Polynices, the unburied, brother

of Antigone, fought against Thebes, making him undeserving of a grave

according to Creon. All that Polynices was doing was following his own

morals. He believed in the other side, whatever that may have been, and

he gave his life for it. Creon, being closed minded, lashed out before

taking the time to weight the circumstances, and being so hasty in his

decision suffered an even greater consequence than that of Antigone, in the

end. He refused to listen even after Teiresias warned him by saying, "The

sun won't run its course for many days before you have to repay a corpse

of your own..." Antigone performed God's will, and Creon tried to stand

in the way, thinking of himself as more powerful. In the end though, it

showed that morality would prevail over all else, proving that's what in

your heart is what matters the most. What ever punishment Creon received,

he deserved. Teiresias told him that what he was doing was wrong, "One

body you have locked in a tomb. Another that rightly should be in the

underworld you have forcibly retained here on earth. Because of this, the

Furies have been waiting to pay you back in your own coin.