Antigone Moral Dilemma
Antigone’s Moral Dilemma Margaret Walsh South University Online
Antigone’s Moral Dilemma Perhaps the most pronounced question in the play "Antigone" by Sophocles' is the value of human law vs. divine law. In this tragic play a newly appointed king Creon declares to his people that treason was committed during battle, and one of the two brothers (Polyneices) killed shall not be buried according to the Gods, but instead "He shall be left unburied for all to watch the corpse mutilated and eaten by carrion-birds and by dogs" (Sophocles, 1900.). This dilemma is felt by many, especially Antigone (sister of the deceased). In Greek culture it is thought that the spirit of a body cannot find rest if it is has not been laid to rest by the evening of the day it has departed, and it is condemned to roam the earth for eternity. The struggle between human law and divine law is a moral dilemma Antigone feels as she decides to go against the laws of the king. Antigone’s desire to bury Polyneices properly according a divine edict is challenged as she faces the hurdle to defy King Creon’s ruling. She acknowledges the importance of family and savors in the knowledge of defying the state. She ultimately succeeds in this moral quest to stand by belief in divine principle above and against the power and authority of the state, despite her suicide. Many Greek writers such as Homer in Iliad, reflect religious ideology in their works. A constant battle between man and the gods are apparent, and the concepts of burial rights are similarly played out. In Iliad after Achilles rejoins the battle and fights his enemies, he kills Hektor, the Trojan leader and releases his body to be buried after the gods intervene (Coughlin, 1990.). In Antigone, the character Antigone realizes that Creon next in line to
Antigone’s Moral Dilemma Perhaps the most pronounced question in the play "Antigone" by Sophocles' is the value of human law vs. divine law. In this tragic play a newly appointed king Creon declares to his people that treason was committed during battle, and one of the two brothers (Polyneices) killed shall not be buried according to the Gods, but instead "He shall be left unburied for all to watch the corpse mutilated and eaten by carrion-birds and by dogs" (Sophocles, 1900.). This dilemma is felt by many, especially Antigone (sister of the deceased). In Greek culture it is thought that the spirit of a body cannot find rest if it is has not been laid to rest by the evening of the day it has departed, and it is condemned to roam the earth for eternity. The struggle between human law and divine law is a moral dilemma Antigone feels as she decides to go against the laws of the king. Antigone’s desire to bury Polyneices properly according a divine edict is challenged as she faces the hurdle to defy King Creon’s ruling. She acknowledges the importance of family and savors in the knowledge of defying the state. She ultimately succeeds in this moral quest to stand by belief in divine principle above and against the power and authority of the state, despite her suicide. Many Greek writers such as Homer in Iliad, reflect religious ideology in their works. A constant battle between man and the gods are apparent, and the concepts of burial rights are similarly played out. In Iliad after Achilles rejoins the battle and fights his enemies, he kills Hektor, the Trojan leader and releases his body to be buried after the gods intervene (Coughlin, 1990.). In Antigone, the character Antigone realizes that Creon next in line to
References: Antigone. (ca.480-406.). (R.C. Jebb, Trans.). Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html Coughlin , E. K. (1990, June 6). 'iliad ' is said to reflect religious ideology Retrieved from http://chronicle.com.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/article/Iliad-Is-Said-to-Reflect/67819/ Sophocles. (2005). In Meet the Philosophers of Ancient Greece. Retrieved from http://login.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/login?qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fliterati.credoreference.com.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu%2Fcontent%2Fentry%2Fashgtpag%2Fsophocles%2F0