Theme of Punishment in Antigone Essay Example

Cursed with a life of tragedy, Antigone ishas been forced to overcome many trials. Now, when deciding between the laws of man and the laws of God, she chooses the gods. Antigone's treason will not be the downfall of Thebes; she is a young girl who has lost almost all her family. Her actions are driven by her desire to allow her last brother’s soul to travel to the afterlife. The people of Thebes believe her actions were justified and she should be let free. The gods who have been around for an eternity created their rules to both protect and to give equal rights to the people. Antigone now has a death sentence for burying her beloved brother. Creon’s law is unquestionably harsh and unjust and Antigone should not be punished.

While some might believe that what Antigone did will cause further treason within the city, ultimately too many strict rules is what will cause the city's ruin. Creon attempts to make the point that if Antigone is able to break the law and get away with it, people will deem it acceptable to commit acts of treason. Laws should be fair. Just because Antigone broke the law does not mean they shouldn’t exist. Too many laws mimic the ruling of a dictator where people have no say and the leader's word is final. Tiresias warns Creon that his ruling is ruining Thebes; “And it is you-- your high resolve that sets this plague on Thebes.” (111) It is not Antigone that has caused the curse, it is Creon. The strict laws he has set for his people to avoid these issues have backfired and now are affecting him. No matter how many of man's laws rule over Thebes, the gods always have the final say. If the people of Thebes are stable-minded and have faith in the gods, which they do, then rebelling against one of man's laws will not cause Thebes to topple. In fact, the unity of the people will bring a stronger connection between the citizens and help Thebes to grow as a nation.

Antigone's actions were driven by her love for her family and her passion for the gods. She is an honorable woman who deserves no punishment. Antigone grew up in a broken family, raised by her uncle after the death of her father and suicide of her mother. Her two brothers went off to war on opposite sides which resulted in the death of both of them. Now, Creon’s law forbids her from honoring the life of Polynices, her brother. She refuses to leave her brother's corpse untouched and states, “my mother and father both lost in the halls of Death, no brother could ever spring to light again.” (105) Antigone has accepted that she will never be able to see her father, mother or brothers again and that they are lost to her. Even though they are dead she wants them to rest peacefully so they can escape their grueling past lives. The tragedy followed by her brother's death causes her to act rashly, but not without devotion. Antigone carries so much faith in the gods, and will do anything to fulfill their laws; “But if [Antigone] had allowed [her] own mother’s son to rot, an unburied corpse- that would have been agony.” (82) She knows the consequences of her actions, but feels that so much more agony would result if she were to ignore God's law. Antigone has already experienced much more loss than one person should have to, nevertheless the past has not led her to a life of destruction. She is not out to cause harm to the city or the people. "[Antigone] was born to join in love, not hate - that is [her] nature." (86) Her plans do not include casualties or rebellion in the city. Even her anger towards the law is not enough to cause her to harm people. At this point in her life she does not care if she lives or dies. For such heroic actions she should be able to live a long fulfilling life. Antigone is a kind, intelligent young woman and rightfully deserves a second chance.

The story of Antigone touches the hearts of the devoted people of Thebes which convinces the people to unite and rally against Creon. When Antigone comes forward and announces that she is the culprit, the citizens begin to question their loyalty to their king. Originally, they all wholeheartedly agreed with Creon about the punishment for the law, but now they hear Antigone, remember her tragic past, and feel bad for her. Soon enough whispers are racing through the people about challenging Creon. “‘No woman,’ they say, ‘ever deserved death less and such a brutal death for such a glorious action.”(pg 95) Haemon helps to express the opinion of all the people by telling his father because he knows his father will not hurt him. The waiver of support from his once loyal subjects causes Creon to worry. Soon he has banished Antigone to a cavern, but as the people grow more confident they speak out for themselves. The Leader, who represents the chorus, begs, “Go! Free the girl from the rocky vault and raise a mound for the body you exposed.” (116) He and the others sympathize with Antigone and does not want to see her suffer. Although the people supported Creon originally, they are completely devoted to the gods and Antigone’s actions aline with their laws. Finally, their power in numbers gives them the confidence to speak for themselves instead of following their ruler, and in the end their courage helps to sway the Creon's opinions.

The gods created laws that are more powerful and overrule any human law; they are the highest authority and should be respected. Antigone's actions follow the commands from the gods, whose laws outrank Creon’s laws. The gods require that all the dead are laid to rest with a proper burial and that they will have honors bestowed upon them. Besides Antigone, the people fear the god’s and what betraying them may cause. The Chorus chants, “Zeus, yours is the power, Zeus, what man on earth can override it, who can hold it back?” (92) The collective word of the Chorus is that no man is capable of replacing the gods. Even though they originally followed Creon’s decree, they still understand the capabilities of the gods. Gods like Zeus and Hades have been around for centuries when the earth was still new, while Creon is a mere mortal man who, compared to the gods, holds no power. Antigone makes her faith clear to Creon; “These laws- I was not about to break them, not out of fear of some man's wounded pride, and face the retribution of the gods.” (82) Even when being sentenced to death Antigone will not say that she fears Creon more than the gods. While the gods are there to protect the people, they are not to be taken for granted and should be respected. The gods control many aspects of life, including the weather, crops, and they can cause plagues. Although the gods are not physically present, their impact on Thebes is enough for the faith of the citizens.“They are alive, not just today or yesterday: they live forever, from the first of time, and no one knows when they first saw the light.” (82) They have rooted their ideals into the beliefs and traditions of the city. Their direct involvement in the lives of the people is what pushed Antigone to bury Polynices, and is what pushes the people to fight back against their ruler. The influences the gods have on the people, and the respect the people return is like a well oiled machine that gives the gods the power that they hold over the people.

A world where Antigone is killed is a world where the gods rage at the injustices that are Creon's laws. The people will no longer trust their leader and the city will be in disrepair. Antigone does not deserve Creon’s punishments. Her actions were driven by love, she should be held as an example to the people of Thebes, a symbol of what’s right and wrong. Her love towards her brothers and towards the gods is what gives Antigone the strength to overcome the tragedy that is her life. She has already conquered so many obstacles, now she should be let free and not punished for her act of honor and devotion.