Antigone Human Law Vs. Divine Law - 1418 Words

Lauren Wolfson Professor Neil Scharnick THR 3270 History of Classical Theatre 30 November 2016 Antigone: Human Law vs. Divine Law The most prominent theme in â€Å"Antigone† by Sophocles is the conflict of divine law vs. human law; it is the driving force behind the entire play. It is an issue of which law is the right law, and if Creon s and Antigone s acts were justifiable. It is also a question of what motivates them both to act as they do and if they were predestined to their fates due to their ties to a doomed family. There is also a significance of which character is in the play more and which holds more power of the play. Divine law involves morals and beliefs that are presented by the gods and most obviously this type of law is in effect when the idea of morals are apparent, such as when a moral decision must be made. Divine law is not only in decisions, but also in the everyday actions of people. Human law is more based around governing the land and community and is directly and immediately enforced. Antigone herself disobeys human law that was set up by King Creon, a law that went against the beliefs she held towards the law of the gods. Charles Paul Segal wrote in his essay Sophocles Praise of Man and the Conflicts of the Antigone that the characters, like the play itself, have many levels which fuse organically, sometimes indistinguishably, into a complex unity; and here the confrontations of the two protagonists create an ever-ramifying interplayShow MoreRelatedAntigone: Divine Law vs. Human Law Essay2108 Words   |  9 Pagesentitled Antigone was written by a man named Sophocles, a scholarly author of philosophy and logic. The play Antigone is probably one of the most prominent interpretations of a tragic drama. The two main characters of the play are Antigone and Creon. There is much conflict between Antigone and Creon throughout the play, both of them having their own ideas and opinions regarding divine law versus human law. The theme that I am going to analyze is the conflict of divine law vs. human law. The reasonRead MoreMain Theme Of Antigone942 Words   |  4 Pagesthe way that society functions. In  Antigone  by Sophocles, themes exist such as determination, the conflict between conscience and law, the conflict between divine and human law, and familial loyalty.  One key and central theme of Antigone is the importance of loyalty to family, which is shown through Antigones determination and dedication to her family, her conviction in the law of the gods, and her essence and personality as a dynamic character. In  Antigone,  the protagonists, Antigones, mainRead MoreHuman Law Vs. Divine Law1487 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Law vs. Divine Law Morality is principles that determines the distinction between right and wrong action, or good and bad behavior. There is also a link that being moral should be determined by either human law or divine law. The play â€Å"Antigone†, by Sophocles, shows the complexity of this certain concept of morality. Antigone must determine whether she should defy King Creon’s law in order to bury her brother, Polynices, or reject her own religious beliefs in order to maintain in the King’sRead MoreAntigone Moral Dilemma1253 Words   |  6 Pagesquestion 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)Read MoreThe Conflict Between Antigone And Creon836 Words   |  4 PagesIn Sophocles’ tragedy, Antigone, Sophocles follows Aristotle’s definition of tragedy which is constructed in six parts: plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song. Although these six parts are used to produce a successful tragedy, thought is especially important in Antigone because it encapsulates the plot of the play. The thought, or the theme, is revealed in the dialogue from the Prologue to the Second Episode. As a result, Antigone’s and Creon’s dialogue exhibits two interrelated themes:Read MoreReview Of Oedipus Rex 1342 Words   |  6 Pagesthe play. Antigone Reading Questions How is this version of Creon in comparison to the Creon presented in Oedipus Rex? Why? - In the myth about Oedipus Rex, Creon is portrayed as an honest, fair character who uses reason when confronted. For example, when Oedipus accuses him of conspiring against him, Creon explains to why he has no need for Oedipus’ crown. When the truth is revealed about Oedipus, Creon is also shown as understanding towards his troubles. In the myth of Antigone, Creon is depictedRead MoreDivine Law Vs. Human Law1510 Words   |  7 PagesWritten Assignment Divine Law vs. Human Law West Islip High School Là ©na Seltzer 003996-0069 May 2017 1472 Words Religion and State have historically battled over value of importance. For centuries, laws have been set forth to further the separation between the two. While good intentions were utilized in the creation of these statutes, it is challenging to shift the mindset of civilians who have worshiped religion above the state their entire lives. In the play, Antigone, Sophocles dramatizesRead MoreThe Conflict Of Sophocles Antigone1500 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles’ Antigone centers around a familial feud that develops between Antigone and Creon when Antigone decides to bury her brother and Creon’s niece, Polyneices. While Antigone believes that it is her religious and familial duty to bury her brother, Creon objects, citing the Theban civil war which took place right before the events of the play. Adhering to Greek literary tradition, Sophocles ultimately seeks not just to entertain the audience but also to teach a moral lesson, in this case aboutRead MoreSophocles Antigon e By Sophocles1892 Words   |  8 PagesAntigone †¢ Title: Antigone by Sophocles †¢ Genre: Play; Tragic drama †¢ Historical context: Written circa, 442 B.C.E. in Athens Greece. Performed circa, 441 B.C.A. Its literary period was classical. While Antigone was the first written of Sophocles’ three Theban plays, it was the last of the trilogy. It was performed during a time of national unrest. Sophocles was appointed to serve as a general in a military crusade against Samos. The significance of the historical events during that timeRead MoreComparison Of Oedipus The King And Antigone By Sophocles944 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus the King and Antigone. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus caused his fate to become real by running from it. He killed his father and made love to his mother even though he had no idea who they were he was still punished. He passed the punishment of his sins to the rest of his family when he gouged out his eyeballs and banished himself from the city. In Antigone Oedipus’s sons killed each other in battle over the throne and helped Creon take over the th rone. He made a law that no one could bury