Importance Of Law In Antigone Essay Example

Without laws, human civilization wouldn’t have achieved the many advancements it has made today. Laws guide us to know right from wrong, and keeps us from living in chaos. The two biggest sources that set these laws are the government and from our religion. But what happens when these rules contradict themselves? In the play, “Antigone” by Sophocles the main character Antigone decides to go against her governments rules to follow religious laws. Throughout the play, Antigone shows the Jesuit value of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam as she risks her life to give her brother a proper burial.

In the play “Antigone”, there was an attack on the city in which two brothers Eteocles and Polynices who were brothers dueled and both died from the others sword. The new king of the city, Creon, decreed that Eteocles get a proper burial as he was considered a hero for defending the city. While decreeing that Polynices was an invader and enemy of the city hence his body to be left to sit and rot. He then states that if anyone tries to bury him they will be stoned to death. In ancient Greece, they believed a proper burial was necessary for reaching the afterlife. It was believed that without being buried or proper burial rites wouldn’t allow one to enter the afterlife. Creon wanted to punish Polynices even in his afterlife.

The Jesuit value Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam is very apparent through the play “Antigone”. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (AMDG) is a latin term meaning for the greater glory of God. This term was coined by the head of the Jesuits, Ignatius of Loyola, and is considered a cornerstone motto for the society of Jesuits. This means all that we say or do should be for God. As we should see God in all things, in doing so find good in everyone and everything. We are all called to respect and give all humans and creation dignity. 

Antigone the main character depicts AMDG all throughout the play. As she sacrifices her own life to help her brother but to also appease the Gods. She saw how unjustly her brother Polynices was being treated by Creon’s law that prohibited any such proper burial for him. Even though her brother went against the city she still saw the dignity in him and still loved him simplicity sake she saw God in her brother. 

Sophocles play “Antigone” illustrates Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam through it’s character Antigione. Despite the differences of her multitude of Greek gods we still can implement her actions in our daily lives. To see God in people whom it may be difficult to see in like traitors or people who hurt us. Yet Antigone still saw the good in her brother and gave her love to him.