The play Antigone addresses the issues of the legal theory and the law in general that are important for the contemporary society jointly with the fact that the humans treated the rule of the law in the different manner through the different stages of the evolution. In order to respond to the attitude of the characters in the play to the rule of law and other legal principles, the description of the theme and the characters should be provided. Antigone is reflected in the story as the orphaned daughter of Jocasta and Oedipus. Due to the fact that she has no other relatives, her uncle Creon in the position of the King was the only person she may turned to. Besides, the relations of Antigone with her uncle were not simple due to the fact, that the girl preferred to ignore Creon’s plans and ruling on the fact that Antigone’s brother can not be buried. From one point of view, the conflict raised in the paper seems to be dramatically simple and clear. From one perspective, there are two opposing groups which treat the rule of the law in the different manner. In fact, Antigone should be regarded as the aristos that have the features of the old families loyal to the customs. These people do not believe in the power of the law due to the fact that thee consider the customs and family relations themselves may resolve any problems and issues. In contrast, Creon pertains to demos as the other social group that underlines the importance of the legal principles in the community. This category of the people believes that in case there is any existing legal act, then it should be respected inevitable by every individual of the community. The same attitude is seen in the behavior of Creon to the burning of the brother. He introduced the decree requesting everyone to follow it irrespective of the existing molar principles and views. Through the entire play, the audience may observe in what manner Antigone and Creon accept the human laws and the God’s laws. Despite the generally accepted practice that any individual after the death should be buried, Creon ignored this fact by stipulating the existence of the personal decree prohibiting it based on his view. In general, the play raises such important questions as to whether any particular balance can be provided between the interests of the state and the rights of the individual living in this state. Besides the attitude of people to the actions of Creon is seen in 213-214, where the people say: “You, being sovereign, make what laws you will. Both for the dead and those of use who live” (Willner).
In this regard, the author of the play through the entire text presents the evidence that every person and character may decide as to what law should be followed. As to Antigone, the decision to respect the laws of the Gods and the respective moral rules is considered to be the proper kind of the behavior, while the disobedience of the decree of the King is not the right decision due to the fact that Antigone lives in the particular community which is governed by the appropriate rules. The power of every society lies in the fact that the activity of the people within this society should correspond to the particular norms and rules. However, it is quite interesting to observe the attitude of Antigone and Creon to the fact that they are acting in the improper manner with regard to the existing laws. It is clearly seen that Antigone is not concerned with the fact that she violates the decree of the King, while Creon expresses no fear that his obedience to the laws of the Gods may be punished. At the same time the absence of the respect on behalf of Antigone to Creon is seen in the following words in line 453 of the text: “Nor could I think that a decree of yours, a man could override the laws of heaven, unwritten and unchanging” (Pritchard).
Accordingly, there is a stable comparison of the human law with the divine law in order to define what rules should be regarded by the human as the primary one. Even since the beginning of the story, there is a heated discussion between Antigone and Ismene on the issue about the force of the different laws and its impact over the behavior and duties of the people. The sisters can not agree on the fact as to whether the people should pay more attention to the performance of the religious duty or follow the execution of the civil duty under the decree of the King. Simultaneously, through the dispute between the sisters the people may see that despite the fact Ismene has the moral obligation to bury her brothers she is afraid of the King’s decree and tries to persuade her sister Antigone to follow her example. From this line of the behavior, it can be seen that the law itself is authoritative for the people described in the play, while the main idea of any legal act is to comply with them if there is no evident contradiction with the moral principles of the human being. Even in line 67, Ismene expresses the idea to Antigone that she is afraid to yield to the people in power due to their authority. At the same time, Antigone acts in the manner that is considered to be reasonable for her. She notes that King has no power to decided the issue related to the burying of the person as this sphere of the relations is vested in the authority of the Gods. Therefore, Antigone should fulfill the moral duty before her brothers so that to bury them in addition to the fact that she feels obliged. Consequently, Antigone recognizes that the obedience with the decree of the King will result in the disastrous consequences for hem even as she can die. Although, she stands to the idea that no individual can interfere in the regulation of the life of the man because it related to the eternal part of the living controlling by the Gods. Therefore, the main point which is highly important for Antigone in comparison to her sister, is to avoid the tribunal of the Gods that may punish her for the improper treatment to the death of the brothers (Sophocle's).
Similarly, as to the loyalty of Antigone to the God’s laws, Creon believes in the supremacy of the rule of the law irrespective of any other stable norms and principles. He states that only the country and the state as the separate institution have the primary influence over the behavior of the person in the society. By virtue of the adopted decree, Creon explains to the people its power and the necessity to comply with this legal act regardless of the perceptions of the people. Moreover, Creon reaffirms that his will is unchallengeable so that the people living in Thebes should take his decisions as granted.
Concerning the main theme of the play as to the continuous fight between the religious law and the civil legislation, there are different view as to the interpretation of the actions of Creon as new King. Based on the numerous beliefs of the Greeks at that time, Creon as the King has been chosen by the Gods to perform the functions of the governor of the city. Accordingly, the law adopted and introduced by the King should be treated by the population as the will of the God as Creon performs the functions of the mediator between the people and the Gods (Pritchard).
In this respect it should be said that approximately all characters in the play faces the necessity to refer to the freedom of choice and they have to take the important decisions. For example, Antigone’s sister should decide whether it is appropriately to follow the practice of her sister and bury brothers or it is better to stay aside by performing the role of the silent observer. At the same time, Antigone as it has been stated above have the ambiguous feelings. From one side she feels that it is the right decision to help to the brothers by burying them, while she also thinks about her future life from the self-consciousness position. For sure, she understands that in any case the punishment will take place. However, this penalty will be linked to the decision she takes, as the Gods or the King will be responsible to prosecute her actions. Meanwhile, it is necessary to dwell on the choices of Haimon and Eurydice. The first has decided to separate himself from his father, while Eurydice acts from the perspective of the fear. He decided that it is much better to die rather than to continue the life he has. Despite the actions of these characters of the play, the behavior of Creon draws the major portion of the attention. His line of the adoption of the decision is not clear to some extent as it can not be interpreted from the ethical and moral perspective. From the early beginning, Creon in the possession of the King of the community adopts the decision to prohibit the burial of Polyneices. It should be said that this practice was not understandable for the society as the people get accustomed to bury each other while the decree of the King shows that some people have no right to get away from the earth in the proper manner. By virtue of this decree, the King expresses his attitude to the people. He shows that there is no need to keep their respect, while he does no care as to whether his actions can be justifiable. In fact, the only thing that is bothering him lies in the fact that everyone should follow his ruling and comply with it. Therefore, he has chosen the position to ignore any exposure to the judgment from his people that Polyneices were not allowed to be buried. Afterwards, Creon understands that this conduct on behalf of the King of the community may raise a lot of concerns among the people so that he is afraid to some extent of their actions. He believes that everyone may think over the conspiracy or any other suspicious activity in order to remove Creon from the position of the King as he recognizes the fact that he got the throne in the illegal way (Honning).
Notwithstanding, it is highly important to return to the examination of the role of the divine and human law in the society. Antigone stands to the idea that the rulings of the King plays not important role and has no power to regulate her activity due to the fact that the divine law always prevails over the human laws. At the same time, Creon may be considered as active antagonist as he does no consider the consequences of his actions and their nature. Moreover, Antigone and her brother have different views to the interpretation of the right and wrong things for the governance of the living of the society. Therefore, it is quite difficult to judge the activity of these characters as they have their understanding. Meanwhile, Creon was not told by anyone that the adopted decree contradicted to the evident moral and ethical principles, while Creon believes that the King has the authority to the create the law which exists separately from the divine laws (Charles).
Furthermore, Ismene represents the interesting example of the female that is afraid of the power of the law regardless of the aim and objects it pursues. Given the fact that her sister requested her to help, Ismene refused to her due to the perspective consequences disobedience may trigger. Meanwhile, Ismene draws the attention of Antigone that females have no power not to follow the decisions of the men based on the dominance of the males within the society. At the same time, she thinks about herself as the thing that has not rights while the proper behavior and its framework is provided by the King. Therefore, the King is the only person that may protect her against any risks and dangers so that she is obliged to comply with his decrees. Thus, it is possible to states that Ismene represents the significant portion of the society that does not pay attention to the political life of the community. In general, some people according to the author do not feel themselves obliged to go deeply in understanding the origins of the particular decree. In contrast, Antigone does not welcome the position of her sister and believes that following the rules and principles adopted by the men deprive the women of the opportunity to decide upon their personal life and the actions to be taken. Therefore, through the play the author reflects two different positions of the females, where one prefer to stay aside from the conflict and the other takes the opposite approach against the power and authority of the King. Accordingly, Antigone considers that it is necessary to ruin the power of the patriarchal society as the people have no freedom to define the difference between the right and wrong actions. Moreover, through the entire play Sophocles address the necessity to fulfill the responsibilities as the family members regardless of the legislation adopted. In this regard, the author shows that Antigone had to be loyal to her brother irrespective of the thought and positions of the other people within the same community (Holland).
Thus, the main idea which may be taken from the interpretation the text of the author lies in the fact that any person should take the consciousness actions. Moreover, any activity of the individual should be based on the ethical and moral principles. The same approach is relevant for the contemporary society due to the strong role of the law. In fact, there are several legislative acts that define the framework of the behavior of the individual, by the person himself should have the understanding the consequences of the actions and its appropriateness for the particular community. Despite the fact that nowadays there are almost now monarchies in the world, the power to adopt the legal acts are vested in the relevant political groups forming the state bodies in different countries. In this respect, these people have the authority to adopt the rule, while the democracy is regarded as the main pillar of the development of the modern community. Therefore, the people should get the essence of the legal act regardless of the fact whether they respect the groups adopting the legislation or not. Besides, Antigone as the main character of the story may be found in the contemporary world, in particular, in the countries, where women struggle for the equal rights with the men. Finally, in relation the the play Antigone one should understand that any legal act is made completely of the language, while the actions of the individual are driven by the state of mind. Therefore, the aim and objectives differ due to the fact that the law itself addresses the primary interests of the society, while the interest of the particular person are protected by his actions in form of the mindful activity.
Works Cited
Charles Knapp. “A Point in the Interpretation of the Antigone of Sophocles”. The American Journal of Philology 37.3 (1916): 300–316. Web.
Holland, Catherine A. "After Antigone: Women, The Past, And The Future Of Feminist Political Thought". American Journal of Political Science 42.4 (1998): 1108-1132. Print.
Honig, Bonnie. “Antigone's Laments, Creon's Grief: Mourning, Membership, and the Politics of Exception”. Political Theory 37.1 (2009): 5–43. Web.
Pritchard, Annie. “Antigone's Mirrors: Reflections on Moral Madness”. Hypatia 7.3 (1992): 77–93. Web.
Sophocle's. Antigone. Dudley Fitts, Robert Fitzgerald. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. Robert DiYanni. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 1348-77. Print.
Willner, Dorothy. “The Oedipus Complex, Antigone, and Electra: The Woman as Hero and Victim”. American Anthropologist 84.1 (1982): 58–78. Web.
