Law and Justice - Antigone and the Defense of Tradition - 6.4 Antigone

Summary

Sophocles' *Antigone*, performed in 442 BC, explores the tension between human and divine laws. After a civil war, King Creon decrees that the body of Polynices, deemed a traitor, must remain unburied, dishonoring him even after death. Antigone defies this decree, believing divine law demands burial rites. Her act of civil disobedience leads to tragic consequences, culminating in multiple deaths, including Antigone’s. The play delves into profound questions about justice, law, and human wisdom, highlighting the tragic outcomes of rigid authority and moral conflict.

Takeaways

• 📜 Sophocles' Antigone, performed in 442 BC, explores profound questions about the grounding of law and justice.
• 👭 The story begins with Antigone and Ismene at the gates of the Theban palace after their brothers Eteocles and Polynices have killed each other.
• 👑 Creon, the new king of Thebes, decrees that Polynices, considered a traitor, should not be buried, a severe punishment in ancient Greek beliefs.
• 💀 Burial rites were crucial in ancient Greece, and denying burial meant dishonoring the dead and preventing their peaceful transition to the afterlife.
• ⚔️ Antigone defies Creon's decree, insisting on burying her brother, while Ismene hesitates, highlighting the sisters' contrasting personalities.
• 🗣️ Antigone openly admits to her actions before Creon, arguing that his law conflicts with divine law, which she sees as eternal and just.
• ⚖️ The play presents a classic case of civil disobedience, where Antigone challenges man-made laws by appealing to higher, divine laws of justice.
• 🎭 The 'Ode to Man' in the play celebrates human achievements but raises the question of whether laws are human inventions or part of a divine natural order.
• 🔨 The play culminates in tragedy as Creon stubbornly enforces his decree, leading to the deaths of Antigone, his son, and his wife.
• 💡 The chorus concludes that true happiness lies in wisdom, practical virtue, and respect for the gods, highlighting the tragic consequences of Creon's inflexibility.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Sophocles' 'Antigone'?

'Antigone' explores the tension between human law and divine law, as well as the nature of justice. The central conflict arises when Antigone defies Creon's decree, believing that her moral and religious duty to bury her brother is more important than the king's law.

What significant event sets the stage for the conflict in 'Antigone'?

The conflict begins after Antigone's brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, kill each other in a battle for the throne of Thebes. Creon, their uncle, becomes king and decrees that Polynices, who attacked his own city, should not be buried.

Why was burial so important in ancient Greek culture?

In ancient Greece, burial held deep religious significance. It was believed that the dead could not find peace or enter the afterlife without proper burial rituals. Denying someone burial was seen as both dishonoring them and causing them eternal suffering.

How does Antigone justify her defiance of Creon's decree?

Antigone justifies her defiance by arguing that Creon’s law is not aligned with the divine or natural laws. She believes that her duty to bury her brother is an eternal, immutable law established by the gods, which supersedes the man-made law of the king.

What is the role of Ismene in contrast to Antigone?

Ismene represents a passive and cautious approach, opposing Antigone’s bold defiance. While Antigone is determined to bury her brother despite the king's decree, Ismene is hesitant and looks for excuses to avoid challenging Creon’s authority.

What is the 'Ode to Man' in 'Antigone', and what questions does it raise?

The 'Ode to Man' is a famous choral passage that praises human intelligence and accomplishments, such as agriculture, shipbuilding, and the creation of laws. It raises the question of whether laws are human creations or part of a natural, divine order.

How does the play address the conflict between human law and divine law?

The play contrasts Creon's man-made decree, which forbids the burial of Polynices, with Antigone's belief in a higher, divine law that demands proper burial. This conflict underscores the tension between state authority and moral or religious duty.

What tragic consequences result from Creon's stubbornness?

Creon’s stubbornness leads to a series of tragic events: Antigone is sentenced to death, Creon's son (who is engaged to Antigone) kills himself, and Creon's wife also commits suicide. In the end, Creon is left alone to regret his actions.

What lesson does the chorus convey at the end of 'Antigone'?

The chorus concludes that human happiness, or 'eudaimonia,' is rooted in wisdom ('phronesis') and respect for the gods. It suggests that practical wisdom and reverence for divine laws are essential for a fulfilled life, emphasizing the importance of humility and moral understanding.

How does 'Antigone' exemplify the concept of civil disobedience?

Antigone's actions are an example of civil disobedience because she knowingly breaks the law to follow a higher moral principle. She openly defies Creon’s decree, arguing that the law itself is unjust, and accepts the consequences of her actions.

Outlines

00:00

⚔️ The Tragic Conflict: Antigone's Dilemma

Sophocles' *Antigone*, a tragedy first performed in 442 BC, explores profound questions about the nature of law and justice. The play begins with Antigone and her sister Ismene outside the gates of Thebes, mourning their brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, who have killed each other. Eteocles was the king of Thebes, while Polynices, having been exiled, attacked the city to reclaim power. Their uncle Creon becomes the new king and decrees that Polynices' body remain unburied—a severe punishment and dishonor in ancient Greek culture. Burial was a sacred act, essential for a peaceful transition to the afterlife. Antigone is determined to defy Creon's decree and give her brother the burial rites he deserves, while Ismene is more hesitant, revealing a contrast between the two sisters. Antigone's defiance of the king sets the stage for the central conflict of the play.

05:03

⚖️ Antigone's Act of Civil Disobedience

Creon’s decree that Polynices' body remain unburied is soon violated when Antigone, acting out of love for her brother and loyalty to higher moral laws, performs religious rites for Polynices. When confronted by Creon, Antigone openly admits to her crime, asserting that the king's law is unjust. She argues that Creon’s law goes against divine law, which she believes supersedes human authority. Antigone defends her actions by invoking the eternal and unchanging laws of the gods, directly challenging Creon's authority. This moment exemplifies civil disobedience, as Antigone prioritizes what she sees as natural justice over the decrees of a human ruler. The tension between the laws of the state and the laws of the gods becomes the driving force of the drama.

Keywords

💡Antigone

Antigone is the heroine of the tragedy, portrayed as a defiant figure who challenges the authority of the king, Creon. Her desire to give her brother Polynices a proper burial sets up the central conflict of the play. Antigone represents moral and religious duty, standing against human-made laws when they contradict divine laws.

💡Creon

Creon is the King of Thebes and the central antagonist of the play. He issues a decree forbidding the burial of Polynices, branding him a traitor. Creon represents the conflict between state law and individual moral belief, as his rigid adherence to law leads to tragedy and the downfall of his family.

💡Civil Disobedience

This concept refers to Antigone's deliberate violation of Creon’s decree by burying her brother. She challenges the legitimacy of the law on the grounds of a higher, divine justice. The theme of civil disobedience is crucial to the play, as it explores the moral justification for breaking unjust laws.

💡Polynices

Polynices is Antigone’s brother, who was declared a traitor for attacking his own city, Thebes, in an attempt to seize power. His unburied body becomes the focal point of the play’s moral conflict, symbolizing dishonor and the consequences of civil war. Polynices' fate raises questions about justice, loyalty, and respect for the dead.

💡Thebes

Thebes is the setting of the play and a city-state in ancient Greece. It is a kingdom plagued by civil strife, with Eteocles and Polynices, two brothers, killing each other in a power struggle. The play’s events unfold against the backdrop of political instability, and Thebes represents a society in moral and political conflict.

💡Divine Law

Divine law refers to the eternal and unchanging laws of the gods, as opposed to man-made laws. Antigone argues that Creon's decree violates divine law, which demands the burial of the dead. This theme explores the tension between human laws and higher moral principles that are believed to be universal.

💡Chorus

The chorus in Greek tragedy is a group of performers who comment on the action of the play, offering reflections and moral insights. In *Antigone*, the chorus highlights the play’s themes, such as the ‘Ode to Man,’ which explores humanity’s achievements and the limits of human power. The chorus provides perspective on the unfolding tragedy.

💡Eteocles

Eteocles is the brother of Polynices and former King of Thebes. He fought against his brother in the civil war, resulting in both of their deaths. Eteocles is given a proper burial because he defended the city, in contrast to Polynices, whose body is left unburied. His role illustrates the theme of loyalty to one’s city and the consequences of familial conflict.

💡Phronesis

Phronesis is a Greek word for practical wisdom or moral intelligence, which is mentioned at the end of the play. The chorus states that true happiness and virtue come from phronesis, underscoring the play’s moral lesson: wisdom involves not just following laws but understanding justice and acting accordingly.

💡Ode to Man

The 'Ode to Man' is a famous choral passage that extols human ingenuity, celebrating achievements such as agriculture, shipbuilding, and the creation of laws. However, it also poses questions about the limits of human power, emphasizing the fragile balance between human achievements and respect for divine order. This ode reflects on the theme of law and justice within the play.

Highlights

Sophocles' *Antigone* was performed in 442 BC, raising deep questions about law and justice.

The play begins with Antigone and Ismene at the gates of Thebes after their brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, kill each other in battle.

Creon, the new king of Thebes, decrees that Polynices' body should remain unburied as punishment for attacking his own city.

In ancient Greece, burial held great religious importance as the dead could not enter the afterlife without proper rites.

Antigone defies Creon’s decree and seeks to bury her brother Polynices, even though it is punishable by death.

Antigone’s sister, Ismene, represents passivity and obedience, while Antigone embodies defiance and moral duty.

Creon discovers Polynices’ body has been given burial rites, and Antigone takes responsibility for the act.

In a powerful speech, Antigone defends her actions, arguing that Creon’s law contradicts the divine and eternal laws of the gods.

Antigone’s defiance is an early example of civil disobedience, where she breaks the law for a higher moral cause.

Antigone argues that the laws of justice, as dictated by the gods, surpass human laws made by kings.

The *Ode to Man*, sung by the chorus, celebrates human achievement and questions whether laws are natural or man-made.

The conflict between divine justice and human law culminates in tragedy, as Antigone is sentenced to death by Creon.

Creon's stubborn enforcement of the law leads to the deaths of Antigone, his son (her fiancé), and his wife.

The play ends with Creon lamenting his actions and the destruction caused by his rigid adherence to the law.

The chorus concludes that wisdom (phronesis) and respect for the gods are essential for human happiness, reinforcing the play's moral themes.

Transcripts

>>>>Sophocles' Antigone, a tragedy, was performed in the year 442 BC in Athens. It raises profound

questions about the grounding of law and the nature of justice. When the play begins, and

Antigone and Ismene are at the gates of the palace of Thebes. Their two brothers Eteocles

and Polynices have slain each other. Eteocles was King of Thebes. Polynices had been exiled,

raised an army and attacked his own city and his own brother in an attempt to establish

his rule. The rule of Thebes, the kingship passed to their uncle Creon and when the play

begins, Antigone and Ismene are outside the gates of the palace. Creon the king has passed

a decree, that the body of Polynices, the brother who had attacked his own city would

go unburied. This sets up the action of the play. In ancient Greece, burial was fundamentally

important. It was not only a ritual of enormous respect for the dead, but it was also of enormous

religious significance. The ancient Greeks had beliefs about the body and what happened

to it after it died. They believed that it would suffer, that it wouldn't be able to

enter the realm of the dead in peace until it had been properly buried, and the proper

religious rights had been observed in the burial of the body. The decree of Creon that

declared that the body of Polynices would not be buried was, in fact, a way not only

of dishonoring this man that he saw as a traitor but also of punishing him, even after his

death. Now Antigone and Ismene as the sisters of Polynices are debating whether or not to

bury their brother. And you see a contrast between these two sisters. Antigone, who's

the heroin of the play and who wishes to bury her brother's body despite the decrees of

the king, and Ismene who's weak and passive and who looks for excuses not to act in, in

contrast to the king's decree. And so the play unravels with this tension between the

King Creon and Antigone. Word is brought to Creon that in fact a, the body of Polynices

had been subjected to certain religious rituals. That someone had disobeyed his decree. He

seeks out the perpetrator, and is able to lay the blame at the hands of Antigone - the

sister of Polynices. Antigone is hauled before Creon, and in one of the great speeches in

all tragedy, she openly defends herself. Confessing her deed admitting that she had violated the

law, a law that was enacted by a legitimate king, a legitimate authority. She had acted

in direct violation of this decree and she said that she would not had not done it in

secret and that she was willing to accept the consequences. But she also directly defies

the legitimacy of this law. She never questions the legitimacy of Creon, rather the legitimacy

of his decree. She says: "This law was not made of Zeus." This is the high god for the

Greeks, the god who ensures justice, the god that the highest, the king of the pantheon

of gods. She says this decree was not of Zeus. This was not one of god's laws: eternal and

immutable, unchanging the same today and tomorrow. Antigone defends her actions as just even

though they violate the law. This is the classic act of what has called civil disobedience.

She violates the law because she says the law is not a just law. Antigone invokes an

order of justice. She invokes a natural order. God's laws, divine laws and says that she

is acting in accordance with eternal, objective, natural laws of justice, and that the laws

of this king are in contrast with those true laws. Now as the tragedy unravels, Sophocles

develops exceptional drama around this conflict between the king and this young woman who

defies his orders. The chorus, that is, the group who comes and sings the choral odes,

offers in the play the Antigone one of the great poems in all Greek literature. The second

choral ode of the play known as the "Ode to Man", one of the most famous passages of Greek

literature. It's a hymn that extols the greatness of humans. Their amazing intelligence, their

amazing resourcefulness, what a wonder is man, what a wondrous thing is this creature.

He has invented agriculture. He's invented shipbuilding that allows him to sail the seas.

He's invented cities and he's invented laws. And in this "Ode to Man" we see posed the

question, are laws simply human creations are they conventions? Or are they part of

nature? Do they belong to the order of God? Are they somehow objective and natural? We

see as the play unravels this contrast between true law and man-made law play out in tragic

form. It ultimately results in Creon, who is stubbornly committed to his decree, ordering

that Antigone be put to death for her crimes. And being a Greek tragedy, it ends in a bloody

mess: Antigone dies, Creon's son, whom we learn is engaged to Antigone, kills himself

and Creon's wife kills herself. And at the end on stage Creon is left with the chorus

lamenting his stubbornness, lamenting the fact that he had persisted in enforcing this

law. The final words of the chorus, the final words of the play itself are extraordinarily

resonant. The greatest part of happiness, eudaimonia a word that we'll return to, the

greatest part of happiness is wisdom. Phronein. It's the verb that provides the word phronesis

that we invoked in the very first lesson. Practical wisdom, the chorus says that human

happiness depends on a kind of virtue-- practical wisdom and holiness, respect for the gods.

And this tragedy ends with this awful events that result in bloodshed again at Thebes--

a lawful king with an unjust act ends in a bloody tragedy.