Theme of Law in Antigone Essay Example

Laws make up the integral system required for a society to function as one, yet they might still contain flaws that undermine their purpose. As a result, the same laws that were intended to safeguard civilians become dangerous to them. The rules had been made so rigid that they are counterproductive and backfire. They began to deteriorate. This leads to their integrity being questioned and their influence declining. People can’t be expected to mindlessly obey these unjust laws that are ostensibly “for their betterment”. Antigone had this mindset; there is nothing wrong with that. It was the proper route, following the laws of the gods, one that had been established for Thebes by the Gods for eons. Creon had broken these conventional norms to satisfy his personal rage for Polynices and took it out on Antigone when she stood up against him. His thinking was clouded by his negative views about women, in addition to his disdain for Polynices. Because of these thoughts, he falsely accused Antigone of breaking an unjust law.   

Laws are the backbone of a society and should they be disregarded, society would crumble under the pressure of disorganization. This is true until other factors are introduced. What if the law itself is wrong? What if it hinders society’s advancement instead of supporting it? What if it was based on the selfish desire of one man only? Should people still be expected to blindly follow these so-called laws? Creon believes that “the city is the king’s.(Sophocles, 97)” A king has to lead the city, to make decisions for the people. Decisions that will benefit them, not hurt them. Creon seems to have taken a different stance on this. A wrong one. He put his feelings first, the City of Thebes second. The law that he declared to be implemented on Thebes was in no way for the people, but Creon himself. In his words: “[was he] to rule this land for others - or [him]self? (97).” He has clearly stated that he will put himself first even when Haemon told him that “it’s no city at all, owned by one man alone (97).” He believes that his title as king makes all of his actions and decisions right and the people under him should blindly follow their “leader” even when “the whole city of Thebes denies it, to a man. (97)” He made this law while blinded by his title. It was a blind law. It could in no way be part of Thebes’ backbone unless only to bring doom upon the city.

If Creon disregarded the people, what could stop him from turning a blind eye towards other aspects of Thebes as well? He does do it once again as he disregards the law of the gods about the burial of a mortal. By passing a law blocking the burial of Polyneices, he had gone against laws that had been established for Thebes by the Gods for eons. He falsely believes that “[he], a mere mortal, could override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakable traditions. (Sophocles, 82)” We have seen that he holds his title as king to a high standard. Unfortunately, the crown isn’t omnipotent. The gods still reign over it. No man is perfect. Being a prophet, Tiresias, who had a deeper bond with the gods than anyone else had declared: “All men make mistakes, it is only human. (112)” The gods know that mortals will make incorrect choices, that’s why they have made a path set using laws for them to follow. This path will lead them to success. Creon “know[s] we can’t defy the gods - no mortal has the power (112)” yet still tried to do exactly the opposite. In contrast to Tiresias’s belief about “wisdom [being] the greatest gift we have (113)”, Creon believes that “it is only human but the wisest fall… all for their own gain. (112)” He was aware of the extent of his power, which was nowhere near that of the gods, yet he still tried to oppose them. His title and laws hold little to no value against those set by the gods. Antigone followed this from the beginning, and her “wisdom appealed to another [world] (88)”, one that was much more powerful than Creon’s.

The difference in their beliefs extends beyond society and to the value, they see in different things. Creon thought that the meaning of family held no value while Antigone was ready to give her life to give her brother a proper burial. Creon says: “sister’s child or closer in blood than all my family clustered at my altar worshiping guardian Zeus-- she’ll never escape (Sophocles 82).” Do blood relations hold no value? It seems that to Creon they don’t. The value he sees in his family is almost non-existent. What can you expect from a man who forbade an entire city from burying his nephew? Antigone believed that “he has no right to keep [her] from [her] own (60)”, and she was right. The blood bond shared between a family is one of the strongest ones. Antigone’s decision to go against Creon was because her brother was closer than the king who threw away any value of family. Antigone clarified that she didn’t act “out of fear of some man’s wounded pride (82)” since Creon believed women to be below men. Creon would “never let some woman triumph over [him] (94)”, partially affecting his reasoning to pass the law. 

In his eyes, the people of Thebes, gods, family, and women held no value. He was consumed by the power of the title of “king” which made him unable to see the true value of these things. A blind man can’t make the best decisions since he can’t see the whole picture, or even part of it fully (unless you are Tiresias which he wasn’t). He failed to see the values they held and essentially failed to see the full value of the people of Thebes as they were a part of the city. As the king, he passes an unjust just to satisfy his pride, which in his eyes held the most value. Antigone shouldn’t be punished for what he could and couldn’t see as she was following her own beliefs on the path of the Gods.