Antigone
 
by Sophocles
 
In the play "Antigone" by Sophocles, Creon and Antigone
have distinct conflicting values. Creon's regard for the
laws of the city cause him to abandon all other beliefs. He
feels that all people ruled by him must obey the laws set
forth by him, and may not follow any other ones, regardless
of whether they are moral or religious. Antigone, on the
other hand, holds the beliefs of the gods in high
reverence. She feels that the laws of the gods should be
obeyed above all others, especially when it pertains to
family. 

Creon has a very strong opinion about the laws of the city
and the laws passed by him. His method of enforcing them is
very strict. In "Antigone", Creon orders that Polyneices
may not be buried because of his dishonorable behavior
towards Thebes. Furthermore, he decrees, if anyone is
caught burying him, they will be killed for disobeying his
order. Polyneices is being punished because he attacked
Thebes and betrayed Creon and the people of Thebes. Creon's
harsh punishment on those who disobey the law makes many
fear him and dare not go against him. 

Ismene is an example of someone who was totally intimidated
by Creon. and would not disobey the law of the king. She
shows her fear when she tries to persuade her sister,
Antigone, not to insist on burying their brother,
Polyneices. She is afraid of what could happen to them if
Creon found out that they disobeyed him. Ismene says, "We
must obey them.....I yield to those who have authority"(5).
Not only do the people of Thebes obey the laws of the city
because of their fear but because it is a shame to dishonor
the king. To go against the king's orders and dishonor the
law, is to die a more shameful death than if one dishonored
one's mother and father(59-60). Antigone, on the hand,
feels differently about this issue than her sister and 
does not want to let her brother's body remain without a
proper burial. Her belief is that she can only show respect
and love for her brother if she provides a proper burial
for him. Her beliefs in "The sacred laws that Heaven holds
in honor" are far more important to her than those set by
the king (Antigone 78). She feels that the king cannot
override her belief in the gods. Antigone feels very
strongly about burying her brother even though it would
mean disobeying Creon's orders. 

Antigone refuses to change her opinion even when she is
confronted by the king and sentenced to death. Antigone's
reasoning is, "It was not Zeus who published this decree,
nor have the powers who rule among the dead imposed such
laws as this upon mankind; nor could I think that a decree
of yours- a man-could override the laws of Heaven,
unwritten and unchanged"(450-455). She goes on to say that
she does not want to go before the gods after she had
disobeyed them because of a decree made by a mortal
king(458-459). The loss of a brother is greater to Antigone
than the loss of any other kind. She says, "For had I lost
a son, or lost a husband, never would I have ventured such
an act against the city's will. And wherefore so? My
husband dead, I might have found another; another son from
him if I had lost a son. But since my mother and father
have both gone to the grave, there can be none henceforth
that I can ever call my brother"(907-914). To Antigone this
is another reason to honor her brother; because by honoring
her brother she is honoring her mother and father as well. 

Creon, being a new king, wants to prove his power. He is
being harsh, so that the people of Thebes don't think of
him as being a weak king. Creon feels that if someone
dishonors the city in which he rules, they must be
punished. If Polyneices is not punished, then Creon's power
would be questioned by the people of Thebes. They would
think of him as a weak king who can be dishonored without
fear of punishment. Creon wants to be respected and feared
as a king because this will give him more power. He does
not want to be a "bad" king, using his power for evil
things, but he feels that a show of strong convictions is
important. In order to be a strong king, one must be strict
and firm in one's decisions. That is the kind of king that
Creon is. Creon is a strong king because Thebes is
important to him, but he also wants to be respected. 

Antigone and Creon have different ideas of what is right
and what is wrong; therefore, one cannot judge who is right
and who is wrong. Both Antigone and Creon have justifiable
reasons for their actions. Antigone has the laws of heaven
as well as her family in mind; on the other hand, Creon's
concern is his city and its greatness as well as the need
to be an all powerful king.