The story of Antigone is about Antigones brother whose body has been left unburied because of crimes against the state. The sight of her brother being unburied drives Antigone to go against the law and bury her brother regardless of the consequences. The concept of the Greek afterlife was far more important and sacred than living itself. Everything they did while they were alive was to please the many gods they worshipped. They built temples for their gods, made statues to symbolize them as well.
They had different gods to explain things we now say are an act of God or Mother Nature. Antigone knew her actions were right and Creon, the King thought them to be against the law. This story is on who is right. The fact is Antigone did the right thing. She was acting out of love and dedication to her brother. Since divinity and humanity are shown to be colliding forces where divinity out weighs humanity in ancient Greece. Antigone was justified in her action. Antigone was following her heart and walking with what was right. While Creon followed the law of the state.
Her brothers afterlife was so important to Antigone that she was willing to give up everything to ensure her brothers happiness and future afterlife. This supported in the play by the way she was so outspoken about what she had done after she was caught and while she was being questioned. She said, Why should I be ashamed of my loyalty to my brother? Creon didnt like her speaking in the manner such as this because it shows him that she has no remorse for disobeying his orders. Furthermore, it damages Creons incredible pride.
Creons pride is so great that his son Haimon cant even sway him. Haimon asks his father to take his advice and not have Antigone killed, but because of Creons stubbornness for the law of the state, He gets very upset and makes the situation worse than it already was. He was way too proud to take advice from someone younger. While still being very upset Creon had Antigone killed in front of Haimon. Creon said Just understand: You dont insult me and go off laughing. Bring her here! Let me see her. Kill her here, besides her bridegroom.
This is too much for Haimon to take, and he runs out of the room yelling her death will destroy others Blinded by his pride and arrogance, Creon takes the remark as a threat to himself, afterwards Haimon killed himself. Once Creons wife heard the news she killed herself as well. Creon may have been viewed as justicified in his actions as well. He states that the gods would be unhappy if a traitor to the earth were to be buried. Someone that was a traitor to the gods land would not be taken care of. The gods would agree that the person should be punished.
Creon had the power to change the laws but he did not want to appear weak in front of others. This type of thing goes on in todays society; we too must follow laws we do not like. Or go to jail or be punished some sort of way for not following the rules. In the story Creon was referred to as a tyrant. In sixteenth and seventeenth centuries B. C. E. in one city after another and tyrant by which the Greeks meant someone who held the power contrary to the established traditions of the community In other words by defining Creon as a tyrant in the book, they meant that he was a dictator who took control and changed the laws of the land.
That makes his laws absolute and unjust in the first place. The morals that Antigone had since the day of her birth are what caused her to see above Creons tyranny. Her morals conscious could not allow her brother not to be buried. She was a woman standing up to a king. Back then women did not have any more rights than slaves did and to be talked to in such a powerful way by a woman was just not heard of especially to a king. Only strong willed woman with divine law in her corner could hope to accomplish a goal like standing up to a tyrant such as Creon.
Creon had a chance to make amends. Many people told him of his stupidity. All mankind is subject to error once a mistake is made it is wise of him to make amends and not be stubborn in his ways. Stubbornness is stupidity. Teiresias, an old man who could accurately tell the future, told Creon those words. Creon was still unwilling to change. He had a big ego. Antigones actions were justified. But the heroism of her actions can only be viewed when set against the background of the time period. A strong woman was unheard of in ancient Greece.
