Love is Stronger Than Written Law

Pub #1

       Antigone’s worldview and values are demonstrated countless times throughout the play “Antigone” by Sophocles. Antigone believes that religion oversees written law. This is evident when to Creon, she states “Yes, it was not Zeus that made the proclamation […] I did not believe your proclamation had such power” (Antigone 494-497). This shows the passion of her faith but also the strength in her character. She did not let the things of this world prevent her from doing what she knows is right religiously. Even if it meant going against her own uncle.
      Even though religion was her main motivation, she also was motivated by love. Not only at the opening of the play did she mention “[…] Those we love” (Antigone 12) to Ismene her sister, but also later in their disagreement Antigone stated “But I will go to heap the earth on the grave of my loved brother” (Antigone 93-94). I interpret this as she would go to the ends of the earth for her brother. She valued family greatly. This is also shown when she states “But if I dared to leave the dead man, my mother’s son, dead and unburied, that would have been real pain. The other is not” (Antigone 510-513). Antigone is basically saying the true pain would have been to leave her brother unburied and her to still be alive, that the pain of dying wouldn’t even compare to that. In conjunction with dying for the person she loved, she also believed that she died with honor “No suffering of mine will be enough to make me die ignobly” (Antigone113-114).
       Antigone truly thought her actions were correct, so she felt no need to hide them. This is evident when Ismene states to Antigone “At least do not speak of this act to anyone else; bury him in secret, I will be silent, too.” (Ismene 97-98) Then Antigone responses “Oh, oh no! Shout it out.” (Antigone 99). Antigone states the reason for why her actions shouldn’t be kept a secret in line 103 “I know I am pleasing those I should please most.” (Antigone 103) She knew she was pleasing the gods and that’s all that mattered to her. Her actions not only pleased the gods but also caused the towns people to agree with her actions and mourn for her death. Haemon states this to his father, “The city mourns for the girl; they think she is dying most wrongly and most undeservedly of all womenkind, for the most glorious acts.” (Haemon 744-746) This shows that only Creon thought she should be put to death for actions, though she was a criminal she was “[…] A religious one” (Antigone 85).