Antigone Essay

In Antigone by Sophocles ( a perfect example of a Greek tragedy) , the downfall of both the protagonist Antigone and antagonist Creon is brought about by their tragic flaw which is following their own concept of justice; Antigone- a strong willed egocentric girl- followed religious law over civil law while Creon- the huborous stubborn king of Thebes- followed civil law over religious law. Antigone’s mortal righteousness to uphold the gods laws and Creon’s belief that he is the authoritarian with absolute power following civil law contribute to their tragic downfalls.

Antigone’s absolute belief in the gods and religious law ultimately leads to her downfall, if being in charge of her own fate should even be considered a downfall. Antigone’s fierce devotion to the gods laws is first displayed when she goes against Creon’s civil law by declaring her determination to give a proper burial to her brother Polyneices as shown in this quote “And if
I have to die for this pure crime, I am content, for I shall rest beside him; His love will answer mine”. Antigone buries Polyneices to show respect to him as her brother and as the monarch who shares power with his twin Eteocles immediately before Antigone's uncle, Theban King Creon, ascends to the throne. Additionally, Antigone respects the dead, and the god-given procedures for the proper funerary procedures to send the dead into the realm of the underworld god. As a human being, Polyneices therefore is eligible for such god-given traditions as certain funerary rites and rituals. She doesn't want his body defiled by the elements, dogs, and birds. She prefers love to hatred, and doesn't want the hating of a supposed enemy to be used as an excuse for not following proper burial procedures. Polyneices has finished his passage through life into death.
Every human being spends much more time in the realms of the underworld god than in