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Moral Vs. Man-made Law

Summary:   In Sophocles tragedy, Antigone, the theme of moral vs. man-made law seems to control the whole play. The play depicts a state that is contrasted between divine law and human law.

Moral vs. Man-Made Law

In Sophocles tragedy, Antigone, the theme of moral vs. man-made law seems to control the whole play. The play depicts a state that is contrasted between divine law and human law. Two rivaling sisters, Antigone and Ismene, are different from each other in all aspects. From the exterior point, to what they believe in. While both sisters have lost a brother, Polynices, they don't agree with the other one's choice. Ismene doesn't mind the edict of Creon, the King of Thebes, to not give a proper burial to her brother. Antigone is outraged and gives a proper burial because it's the moral and right thing to do. Antigone believes in her moral responsibility to the gods over her obligation to the nation and is willing to suffer the consequence in order to do what is morally right.

Ismene is portrayed as the beautiful, submissive girl in the family that doesn't dare to think about breaking the human law. She is obedient and thinks Creon's decision of not giving her brother a burial is the right decision. Antigone is talking with Ismene, and tells her that she has an idea to bury their brother Polynices. Ismenes is shocked and tells Antigone what can happen to her if she go against Creon's edict, "But think of the danger! Think what Creon will do!" (61). She is appalled of Antigone's idea and doesn't realize is only looking at the human laws therefore cannot understand the morality Antigone is coming from.

In the beginning of the novel when Ismene finds out of Antigone plan, she doesn't care about her brother burial and doesn't do anything about it except for trying to convince Antigone out of it. Antigone asks for Ismene's help to bury Polynices, surprisingly enough Ismene is irritated. "What? You'd bury him-when a law forbids the city?" (61). It doesn't matter if Polynices is her brother; it is not allowed to give him a burial. It is this scene where it shows how she has loss her sense of independent though and only thinking about what the nation might think of her and how it would be breaking the human law.

Antigone learns that her brother doesn't get a proper burial. She talks to Ismene about Creon to and her other brother Eteocles. "Why not? Our own brothers' burial! Hasn't Creon graced one with all the rites, disgraced the other? Etocles they say has been given fll military honors, rightly so...But the body of Polynices, who died miserably-why, a city wide proclamation, rumor has it, forbids anyone o bury him, even mourn him." (60). Antigone gives a speech and stands up for her family than for Creon's law. She isn't afraid to die for a loved one. Even if this cost her life, she knew this would be the right thing to do in the long term

Antigone is the heroin in the story as well as a rebel. She is brave and intelligent which get her in trouble with Creon later. She is independent and makes her decisions from her morality. After Creon find's out what Antigone has done, he ask her if she would had "gall" to break this law? "Of course I did. It wasn;t Zues, not in the least who made this proclamation-not to me...Nor did I think your edict had such force that you, a mere mortal, could override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakable traditions...These laws-I was not about to break them." (82). Even when she is sentenced to death, Antigone is faithful to moral law. Antigone understands her devotion to the God's and their laws are superior priority over the man-made laws.

In Sophocles's Antigone, the play demonstrates moral vs. man-made laws. Antigone is loyal to her beliefs and the gods. While Ismene is devoted to following the nation and going with Creon's decision. Antigone had good reasons for her actions and resulted in doing the moral and right thing and sticking up for what she believed in. Antigone's legacy will live on, and motivate many other rebels to stand up for their way of thinking.