In the play Antigone, written by the Greek playwright Sophocles, the conflict of Polyneices' burial reveals the contrast between Antigone's strengths and Ismene's weaknesses, and also distinguishes their distinct conflicting values regarding the laws of the gods and the laws of the city.

Creon's law denying the burial of Polyneices unmasks Antigone's courageous, powerful characteristics, and also reveals her strong belief in the laws of the gods. For example, Antigone, infuriated by Creon's new law forbidding Polyneices burial, expresses to her sister, "Ismene, I am going to bury him" (Pro.31). Antigone is willing to defy the law of the land in order to grant her brother a proper burial. She is very brave to go against this law, especially since Creon's punishment for doing so is death. Antigone portrays how extremely courageous she is in the fact that she is willing to sacrifice her own life in order...