Summary:
Sophocles' Antigone is, at its simplest, a tragedy of conflict and misunderstandings. In the play, the laws of the gods are set up against the laws of man, and the two appear irreconcilable as the values are upheld by the equally opposing characters of Creon and Antigone. The following essay examines the characters of Creon and Antigone and the factors that drive them to do what they do.
Sophocles' Antigone is, at its simplest, a tragedy of conflict and misunderstandings. In the play, the laws of the gods are set up against the laws of man, and the two appear irreconcilable as the values are upheld by equally opposing characters, Creon and Antigone respectively. Indeed, Wilkins and Macleod decide that in Antigone 'not only is there conflict, there is also a refusal even to recognise the other's point of view' (23). Thus Chorus significantly warn against the pursuit of extremes and sing about the need for men to reconcile human and divine law:
When he weaves in
the laws of the land, and the justice of the gods
that binds his oaths together
he and his city rise high(409-12)
In this essay I intend to show how Creon systematically chose to exalt state law over divine law and how.....
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