Basic Conflict and its Context
The main conflict in Sophocles’ Antigone revolves around the burial of a corpse. Antigone wants her deceased brother Polyneices to have a proper burial, and is decided to have this happen in spite of the obstacles that she may find in her way. On the other hand, King Creon prohibits this because he believes that Polyneices is a traitor, saying that he died “laying waste the land for which he fought” (Sophocles). This obviously clashes with Antigone’s set desire, as the titular character is intent on burying him, claiming that this is right, regardless of what Creon’s laws have decreed.
It had been prophesized that Antigone’s two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, would both kill each other seeking to be king of Thebes. This has decidedly happened, yet they have had different honors with respect to their burials. Of the former, Antigone says “With lawful consecration he lays out / And after covers him in earth, adorned / With amplest honours in the world below” (Sophocles). Eteocles has had a proper burial, according to the tradition of the city of Thebes.
Nevertheless, Polynices was “miserably slain” (Sophocles) and has not profited from a proper burial. Furthermore, a law has been established that prohibits his burial and even his remembrance: “‘tis publicly proclaimed that none / Must cover in a grave, nor mourn for him” (Sophocles). His body is to be left on the ground for vultures to prey on.
Polyneices and Eteocles had come to an agreement, which the latter did not comply with. As they were both Oedipus’ sons, they had established that they would alternate the throne. Eteocles began, but did not want to relinquish the throne when his year was done, so Polyneices attacked his city; in this battle, both of them died.
Their uncle, Creon, took the throne and declared Polyneices a traitor, saying that his body should be left to rot on the Earth instead of being in a tomb. It should also be noted that this is contrary to this peoples’ religion and tradition, so this law has the profound message of his intent to show his power as a king. Upon gaining knowledge of this, Antigone decides that it is unacceptable, and that her loyalty to her family and to the gods comes before the new law of the land.
What Creon and Antigone Represent
Obviously, this conflict is not just about a dead body, but what the motivations of the main characters, Antigone and Creon, represent. In general, Antigone represents the lone individual fighting against an unjust society, attempting to do what is right with regards to the gods and her family’s honor. On the other hand, Creon is the rule, who is also trying to do what he believes is right, yet basing himself on his own consideration; he represents the society which is made by humankind through the anointment of a person in power.
Furthermore, by considering that the imperative to bury the dead is imposed by the gods, the conflict becomes a fight between men and god. When King Creon asks Antigone why she has transgressed the law, Antigone says that she does not believe “That one who is mortal thus could overbear / The infallible, unwritten laws of Heaven” (Sophocles). Therefore, she places the central fight for power as one between gods and men.
In this sense, the Chorus chastises King Creon in this sense by saying that one should honor the gods and keep their rules from heaven, and “outcast he, / Who hugs dishonour to his heart and follows paths of crime” (Sophocles). The reader is thus adverted that it will obviously not end well for King Creon, as he is disobeying the gods.
In this sense, one could also take this to be a drama between the present and the eternal. Antigone fiercely states, “My time for pleasing men will soon be over; / Not so my duty toward the Dead!” (Sophocles). She knows that obeying Creon’s laws is something temporary, so she should comply with the greater laws, which are eternal. Even though men will perish, mortality being one of the main themes of the play, higher duties are eternal, and thus have more power than whatever men proclaim.
Even though these are all possible interpretations of what these characters represent, the conflict between inner ethical commitment and the impositions of society are what may be most transcendental. The duel between these two sides is what drives the narrative in the play, yet is very relatable to many points in history, including this day. The majority of people attempt to constantly do what they believe to be right throughout their life, yet this sometimes conflicts with the rules and regulations of the place that they live in.
The individual must then make the choice of whether to go along with what society has deemed acceptable or to do what they believe to be the correct course of action. Even though many people suffer this as an internal battle, in Antigone one can see it being incarnated in the battle between the eponymous character and King Creon.
Basically, this is a tale of civil disobedience. King Creon has established a law that Antigone perceives to be unrighteous, so she rebels against it, in order to do what she thinks is right. She will do whatever she has to in order to fulfill her duty, even if this goes against the rules that others have attempted to impose against doing what is correct.
Antigone as a Heroic Figure
This is basically the reason why Antigone is a heroic figure. A woman in good standing, morally sound and a part of the royal family, Antigone ends up humiliated and committing suicide. She is an almost Romantic hero, deciding to take on everybody around her in order to do what she believes to be right. The whole tragedy revolves around her decisions and actions, as well as their consequences. She decides to go through with what she believes to be right even though if she has to do this alone, without her sister, and even against the rest of the community.
Even though she is not a great avenger and the story does not end well for her, she fits in with the definition of a hero because of her commitment to an ideal. Her tragedy is brought on by one of her personality traits: her determination to do what is correct. Even though this is not usually seen as something negative, this inflexibility does bring on very important consequences for her, leading to her suicide.
One can see this in two different spheres: her family and the gods. The latter can be seen in her will to give everybody a proper burial, as most religions require from their followers. Antigone hints at this when she says, “Death knows no difference, but demands his due” (Sophocles). She intends to bury her brother, at least in part, due to this resolution from the gods.
With regards to the former, one can see this explicitly from the beginning, when she proclaims her resolution to “bury my own brother / And thine, even though thou wilt not do thy part” (Sophocles). Antigone is resolved to give Polyneices a proper burial, even if her own sister will not help her. She then explains this position by saying, “I will not be a traitress to my kin” (Sophocles). Even though she knows that this will get her into trouble, as she is completely disobeying a law that has just been passed, her ethical decision to be loyal to her family has preponderance, and she decides to go through with this.
Nevertheless, this determination could also be seen as something negative, naming it hubris or stubbornness. She believes that she has reached the Truth individually, and does not really care what the rest believe. Creon proposes this interpretation by saying “Ay, but the stubborn spirit first doth fall” (Sophocles). He believes that she has transgressed public law due to stubbornness. At least, she could have denied that she had done the deed; nevertheless, she seems set out to defy him and the laws of the city.
Perhaps the most tragic aspect of this is that Antigone also knows that there is no guarantee to differentiate between what is right and wrong. After Creon states that there is no “equality ‘twixt good and bad” (Sophocles), Antigone answers that they may both be equal in Heaven. This makes her plight somewhat senseless, as she believes that only the gods can determine what is right and wrong, if there is such distinction at all, not any mortal, including her.
Works Cited
Sophocles. Antigone. Start Publishing LLC, 2015. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.
