Standing True through It All

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Prior to the opening of the play Antigone by Sophocles, Polynices has attacked the city of Thebes, in what is called the Seven Against Thebes. Polynices is the oldest son of Oedipus who should have rightfully taken over the throne yet his younger brother, Eteocles, seized it. While in battle, the two brothers meet at one gate and end up killing each other in one on one combat, which sets the stage for the events that take place in Sophocles's play, Antigone.

Antigone has returned to Thebes a grown woman following the death of her father, Oedipus. When she was a little girl Antigone, selflessly, became the eyes of her doomed father. Already holding a strong, unbendable bond of loyalty to family, she arrives back in Thebes to find her family being disgraced. Creon has decreed that Eteocles will be treated as a patriot and have an honorable burial yet Polynices will be treated as no better than an animal and will not be allowed to be buried. Antigone tries to convince her sister, Ismene, to disregard the laws of the city and hold strong to the laws of the gods despite the consequences, and bury Polynices. Ismene refuses to help, yet Antigone disregards the warnings and buries him and when she is brought before Creon denies nothing. Creon holds strongly to his convictions of what is best for the state and he sentences her to death. Antigone and Creon are both unbending in their beliefs, which inevitably leads to their downfall. What is the meaning of the conflict between these two stubborn wills of Antigone and Creon for an understanding of Antigone by Sophocles?

Creon, King of Thebes, embodies the essences of man, greed for power and blind stubbornness even when faced with answers. Creon holds the laws of the city above all else and burial is an honor, which Creon feels, is only deserved of those that honor his laws:

These are my principles. Never at my hands

will the traitor be honored above the patriot.

But whoever proves his loyalty to the state--

I'll prize that man in death as well as life.

After it is revealed that Polynices has been buried, Creon puts a death sentence on the head of whoever has done, in his eyes, this disloyal deed to the state and his laws. He believes that only his laws are to be honored and feels that no one has the right to dishonor them.

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