Antigone, by Sophocles, is a popular Greek tragic play that revolves around the difference between doing what is morally right and abiding by the society’s rules. Antigone, daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, risks her life to bury her dead, traitorous brother, Polyneices while going against the orders of the King of Thebes, Creon. Creon doesn't care what happens to Polyneices because he fought against his own brother, Eteocles, and his own land in an attempt to become the King of Thebes. Despite the fact that other people had not given Antigone enough credit due to fear, Antigone feels she was doing what was morally right by burying Polyneices, even if it meant being rebellious and defying authority.
Antigone's strong-willed personality showed that she doesn't care about the consequences of her actions because she stood by what she claimed was morally correct. For example, “Oh, oh, no! shout it out. I will hate you still worse for silence --- should you not proclaim it to everyone” (Antigone, 99-101). Antigone not only wants to defy the orders from Creon but also wants Ismene, Antigone’s sister, to not keep this a secret but shout it out to the public. This way, Antigone’s legacy will be that she is a martyr. She wants people to realize that she did what she had to do to give her brother the honor and peace that he deserved and that she has a lax attitude when it comes to the punishments that she would suffer. She wanted this information to be known in public because then she would get noticed, and this way she would also be setting an example for the future. Antigone's action are opposite of what a female gender should act because back then females were obedient and docile. If circumstances were different like Antigone having a family she might have had seconds thoughts about burying her brother.“ Had I been a mother of children, and my husband been dead and rotten, I would not have taken this weary task upon me against the will of the city” (Antigone, 954-957). She even says that if she was a mother, she would not have endangered the lives of her child and herself just to make her point, so in that sense she held on the traditional perspective of women back in the day. However, unlike women back then, Antigone’s thinking style was out of the norm and differs from the traditional role that her motivation was driven by justice for her brother and also the fact that she has nothing to lose. Even though the consequences would have been the same, Creon is appalled that somebody disobeyed his orders especially in this case it was a women and not a man. This shows how little value and appreciation was credited to women back then. By Antigone burying Polyneices, it is evident that her views and values are more modern in the sense that she executed her plan thoroughly and give no consideration for her gender and the dire consequence that she would face.
“I shall be a criminal--but a religious one”(Antigone,84-85). Antigone expresses the internal conflict she is encountering as she struggles to choose between abandoning her life to bring solace to a dead person or follow the law. Antigone is being extremely bold by saying that she is willing to get into trouble and be a criminal in the eyes of citizens, but, nothing else matters because she is going down for what she most believes in. By being fearless, she is making a statement. She is willing to break the law set forth by Creon because burying her brother was a righteous act in her defense. Antigone accepts her punishment, death because it made her actions towards her brother more justified by what the gods had proclaimed she would do which was bury Polyneices and give him the justice he deserved. “ If I shall die before my time, I count that a profit”(Antigone,506-507). Her emotions show that she is reaching self-actualization when she buried Polyneices and this notion is something she can be proud of. “ I did not believe your proclamation had such power to enable one who will someday die to override God's ordinances, unwritten and secure”(Antigone, 469-499). Creon is using his totalitarian power to override the god’s laws of burying Polyneices and by doing so he is making his idea more important than claims that people supported. In a way, Antigone is doing exactly what Creon is doing, which is going against authority. Meanwhile, Creon is going against the gods, and Antigone against Creon. Creon has vast similarities to modern day leader of North Korea, Kim-Jong un. Machiavellian stated, “Tis better to be feared than loved” which is an agreeable statement because both leaders used fear to dictate their residency. Citizens face a lot of trepidation to speak their thoughts and to stand up for what they believe in due to the immense consequences they might have to face. Both leaders want their citizens to always be obedient, and rule breaking is unacceptable and won't be tolerated. When fear is placed, the society will function where rules are followed and order is maintained. Using love as a method to rule meant being more submissive which can lead to people taking advantage of rules and them not respecting the authority. For example,“ Your face is terrible to a simple citizen; it frightens him from words you dislike to hear”(Haemon,741-742). The citizens are not in support of Antigone due to the outcome of what could happen to them so the citizens chose to remain silent.
Antigone is a bold and outspoken person that makes choices that not only affect her life but everyone that loves her. In Creon's perspective, Antigone broke the rules, and she deserved to be punished for that unjust act. Antigone is not a criminal because the only mistake she makes is a decision to honor Polyneices. In modern times, Antigone's actions are far from what is criminal but a notion of doing something that gives a person solace. Creon and North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un both have similar leadership skills that place fear into their citizens; because of Creon, Antigone knows the consequences of her actions is death. However, Antigone defines her actions against authority and successfully does what she believes in.
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