Antigone

In Ancient Greece, new ideals surfaced as answers to life’s complicated questions.  These new beliefs were 
centered on the expanding field of science.  Man was focused on more than the Gods or heavenly concerns.  
A government that was ruled by the people was suggested as opposed to a monarchy that had existed for 
many years.  Freedom of religion was encouraged to be exercised in city-states.  These new ideals, though 
good in intentions, often conflicted with each other creating complex moral dilemmas.
Such was the case in Antigone a play written by Sophocles during this era of change.  In the play, Antigone 
and Creon battle a philosophical war dealing with the controversy of the Greek ideals.  They both based 
their actions on their beliefs of what is right and wrong.  The conflict arose when the ideals that backed up 
their actions clashed with each other, making it contradiction between morals.
 Antigone’s side of the conflict held a much more heavenly approach, as opposed to the mundane road that 
Creon chose to follow.  Antigone feels that Creon is disregarding the laws of heaven through  his edict.  
After she is captured and brought to Creon, she tells him “I do not think your edicts strong enough to 
overrule the unwritten unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man.”  Antigone’s staunch 
opinion is one that supports the Gods and the laws of heaven.  Her reasoning is set by her belief that if 
someone is not given a proper burial, that person would not be accepted into heaven.  Antigone was a very 
religious person, and acceptance of her brother by the Gods was very important to her.  She felt that “It is 
against you and me he has made this order.  Yes, against me.”  Creon’s order was personal to Antigone.  
His edict invaded her family life as well as the Gods’.
An important ideal in Ancient Greece was the belief that the government was to have no control in matters 
concerning religious beliefs.  In Antigone’s eyes, Creon betrayed that ideal by not allowing her to properly 
bury her brother, Polynices.  She believed that the burial was a religious ceremony, and Creon did not have 
the power to deny Polynices that right.  Antigone’s strong beliefs eventually led her to her death by the 
hand of Creon.  Never, though, did she stop defending what she thought was right.  As Creon ordered her to 
her death, Antigone exclaimed, “I go, his prisoner, because I honoured those things in which honour truly 
belongs.”  She is directly humiliating Creon by calling his opinions and decisions weak and unjust.  She 
also emphasizes “his prisoner,” which tells us that Creon’s decision to capture Antigone was his own, and 
was not backed up by the majority of the people.  She feels that Creon is abusing his power as king and 
dealing with her task to a persona!
l level.
 Creon’s actions are guided by the ideal that states “Man is the measure of all things.”  The chorus 
emphasizes this point during the play by stating that “There is nothing beyond (man’s) power.”  Creon 
believes that the good of man comes before the gods.  Setting the example using Polynices’ body left 
unburied is a symbol of Creon’s belief. “No man who is his country’s enemy shall call himself my friend.”  
This quote shows that leaving the body unburied is done to show respect for Thebes.  After all, how could 
the ruler of a city-state honor a man who attempted to invade and conquer his city.  From that perspective, 
Creon’s actions are completely just and supported by the ideals.
Though most of Creon’s reasonings coincide with the Greek ideals, one ideal strongly contradicts his 
actions.  The ideal states that the population would be granted freedom from political oppression and that 
freedom of religion would be carried out.  Creon defied both of these.  First, Antigone was “his prisoner”, 
not necessarily the publics.  In fact, the general population supported Antigone, though they were too 
scared to say anything.  Haemon, the son of Creon, knew of this, and told Creon, “Has she not rather earned 
a crown of gold?- Such is the secret talk of the town.”  This proves that Creon was exercising complete 
domination of political power, which is strictly forbidden in the new ideals.  Also, not allowing Antigone 
perform her religious ceremony of burying her brother is interfering with religious affairs.  This denies 
Antigone freedom of religion, hence, contempt for this ideal.
The contradictions between the beliefs of Creon and Antigone are strong throughout the play.  Both have 
well-structured arguments, but neither completely dominates the other.  Antigone is motivated by her 
strong religious feelings while Creon is out to make good for his city-state.  The chorus’ opinion is the 
determining factor, as in the end, they convince Creon to set Antigone free.  Creon had to weigh each factor 
carefully, and in the end, he had to decide between ideals.  His mind was torn in two.  “It is hard to give 
way, and hard to stand and abide the coming of the curse.  Both ways are hard.”  The contradiction of 
ideals was what led to Antigone’s, Haemon’s, and Megareus’ death.  Both sides were just, all beliefs were 
supported.  Creon was forced to decide the unanswerable, decipher the encoded, complete the impossible, 
and determine right from wrong when there was no clear answer.