Reason In Antigone

Throughout his play Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates the value of reason through the various arguments in the script. Reason is displayed in two main characters, Creon and Antigone. Antigone uses her belief in divine laws to argue that her actions of burying her brother are justified. While on the other hand, Creon uses his reason to try to get the support of the people through persuasion. Both characters are proven to present valid arguments through the different support system that each one of the characters presents. Through her reasoning, Sophocles attempts to portray Antigone presenting the better argument. Antigone claims she is following the laws of heaven; therefore, her actions are justified. “I never thought your mortal edicts had

The people never question Creon and even worship him for taking over the crown of Thebes and helping Thebes through the aftermath of the invasion. Also, none of the people try to help Antigone avoid her punishment besides Haemon. However, this silence is clearly not in respect of Creon, it is fear that they will face the same tragic fate as Antigone. “Late, too late, your reason reasons right!” (248) The chorus, which represents the general people of Thebes, never speaks out against Creon until the end when he is powerless and in despair. The chorus is stating that Creon’s only use of reason in the play is when he realizes that everything has occurred because of his actions. The fear-stricken chorus only has the nerve to speak out against Creon at the end of the play when he has no power to enforce and no support. “And she a goddess born of gods while we are mortals born of men…” Also, the chorus is honoring and praising Antigone as she is taken off and comparing her to a goddess, clearly showing that the chorus supports what Antigone did even though they can not legally show it. Sophocles shows that the support for a good person following the laws of heaven will always outweigh the support of a bad person who chooses to go against the laws of