Sophocles play depicts a conflict between moral and political laws
Sophocles play depicts a conflict that exists even in the day today. Essentially, this conflict is in regard to moral laws and political laws that are manmade. The characters in the play Antigone clash because of these laws since each of the individuals has their choice law that they wish to follow and hold above all other laws. Specifically, individual moral conscience is birthed from natural moral laws that are essential in directing an individual on the way that they should go in regard to right or wrong choices. On the other hand, political laws help in preventing anarchy by directing what is just and what is unjust, as well as enforcing these laws for the purpose of maintaining order. In the play, Creon holds that political law is above natural and moral laws. However, Antigone is convinced by her conscience that she is doing the right thing as she buries her brother amidst the political backlash from Creon (Honig 10). She perceives the state laws as unjust and thus proceeds to do what she thinks is right by burying her brother.
Creon's reckless political actions and the consequences
Notably, the political actions of Creon were reckless. For starters, he denies that Antigone should bury her brother, which leads to Antigone disobeying and going ahead to bury her brother. This leads to her imprisonment and subsequent death as she kills herself while she is imprisoned. Creon stands out as a dictator after these events, even though he is politically correct. Although Antigone kills herself, Creon is left ethically and morally defeated. He remains in irreparable loss as he considers that he has gone against God's wish. One lesson that we can learn from the play is in regard to the importance of religion and moral law to human stability. Justice is not defined by political laws as one knows deep inside their heart what is right and what is wrong.
Works Cited
Honig, Bonnie. "Antigone's two laws: Greek tragedy and the politics of humanism." New Literary History 41.1 (2010): 1-33.
