Moral Law vs. Civil Law in Antigone
In the case of Antigone versus the state, she chose to follow moral
law, or God's law if you will. Ultimately she felt that His law was right,
and the civil government had no right to say who does and who does not
have the right to a proper burial. People make decisions everyday in
accordance with God's laws or the governments laws. They make a choice
between the two, and they go with it. It's decided upon according to what
they believe is right.
Antigone based her decisions solely on her beliefs that she felt
within her heart. She followed through with her actions, prepared to face
the consequences, knowing what they would be. This shows that Antigone is
courageous and passionate in her beliefs. She felt that the law of the
land was unjust and she couldn't let the soul of her brother suffer
because of injustice. Many citizens backer her up on her decision.
Creon's son, Haemon, even told his father what they thought. He said,
"The people feel sorry for Antigone. They say it isn't equitable that she
must die." God spoke to her and she acted upon the support of a loved one.
She did what she did knowing would smile upon her and the dead would
welcome her.
Creon is what the civil law is. Polynices, the unburied, brother
of Antigone, fought against Thebes, making him undeserving of a grave
according to Creon. All that Polynices was doing was following his own
morals. He believed in the other side, whatever that may have been, and
he gave his life for it. Creon, being closed minded, lashed out before
taking the time to weight the circumstances, and being so hasty in his
decision suffered an even greater consequence than that of Antigone, in the
end. He refused to listen even after Teiresias warned him by saying, "The
sun won't run its course for many days before you have to repay a corpse
of your own..." Antigone performed God's will, and Creon tried to stand
in the way, thinking of himself as more powerful. In the end though, it
showed that morality would prevail over all else, proving that's what in
your heart is what matters the most. What ever punishment Creon received,
he deserved. Teiresias told him that what he was doing was wrong, "One
body you have locked in a tomb. Another that rightly should be in the
underworld you have forcibly retained here on earth. Because of this, the
Furies have been waiting to pay you back in your own coin."
In 331 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the Persian empire, headed
by King Darius III. Alexander found Darius's body murdered by one of his
satraps. Alexander came upon his biggest enemy, and still found it in his
heart to give him a proper burial, because morally he knew it was the
right thing to do. Alexander didn't love the guy, he didn't even like him,
he just did it. The point is this, if Alexander the Great, ruler of all of
Greece, and then some, is able to reach deep down and give his arch enemy
the burial ceremony that he deserves. Than Creon, king of tiny little
Thebes, can find it in his heart to give Polynices and honorable burial,
being his nephew no less.Partner sites: Bulldog, Study Spanish in Mexico, and The Great Gatsby