Antigone

Joe Smith 2/16/06

Antigone

The play Antigone by Sophocles was written in the Greek times. It shows two women who both play major roles in the storyline of the play. Antigone goes against the typical way of women and is somewhat of a rebel. Antigone follows the laws of the gods which is referred to as divine law. Her sister Ismene follows orders and does as she's told for fear of men. Ismene follows the laws set by man which is called human law. My essay will look at how Antigone challenges human law and holds divine law as the higher authority. Human law is supposed to come second to divine law, but in this play that is challenged as Creon tries to go against the gods.

In this instance the law was set by Creon saying, "Polyneices, I say, is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him; he shall lie on the plain, unburied; and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with him whatever they like" (Pro.1.43-47). This is because Polyneices did not favor his side and fought Eteocles. Eteocles and Polyneices were brothers who were supposed to inherit the throne. Because there was two of them and no one brother had been specified, they fought to the death over the throne. In the fight they both died and Creon, their uncle, was left to the throne. Eteocles was buried and given proper respect.

Antigone refused to stand for this and let her brother go on unburied. Antigone goes against Creon and human law so that she can follow divine law which she believes is more important. Ismene follows Creon's orders because she is afraid of human law. She does what will keep her safe at the moment. Divine law can not punish her right now so she doesn't follow it.

Antigone's hubris is what causes her to make all this trouble. The trait of her personality that