p. 82

p. 82: It wasn’t Zeus, not in the least,

who made this proclamation—not to me.

Nor did that Justice, dwelling with the gods

beneath the earth, ordain such laws for men.

Nor did I think your edict had such force

that you, a mere mortal, could override the gods,

the great unwritten, unshakable traditions.

Antigone is accused to break the law Creon has set up. With this she is going against the city and cause Creon not to be in total control. This is a weak spot for Creon since his goal throughout the story is to be in control over his people as a true king has the right to be. The hard punishment toward Polynecis was a way for him to show off what happened to them who goes against the city and, since he increasingly “becomes” the city , against him. When Antigone breaks the law he has set up it is clear that he does not want to see her, a family member, dead. Family might, after all, mean a little to him. He offers her a way out not only once, but twice as he first says “Do you deny this, yes or no?” and then “Were you aware a decree had forbidden this?” (p. 81). She, however, stands up for everything. This forces Creon, who feels like he has to stick to his principles to stay in control, to send her to death. Earlier he said “Whoever places a friend above the good of his country, he is nothing” (p.67). Being biased in the decision of Antigone´s punishment would be just that.

It is clear that Antigone is aware of what will happen to her when she breaks the law and the motivation to bury Polynices anyways is seen in these lines. She is absolutely sure that what she does is the right thing and claims that she follows greater, unwritten laws set up by the gods. Burying the dead is a tradition that cannot be broken simply due to the decision of a mortal, even though this mortal happens to be the king. Not burying the crop is to keep the dead from the underworld, to keep what belongs to Hades. This also means that the unburied person will not be able to get his final rest and afterlife. Antigone will not have this for her brother and is ready to sacrifice her life to avoid this. This shows her great dedication to her family- and she feels ready to join them in the underworld “If I die before my time, I consider that a win” (p.82), giving me the feeling that she longs for her death.

However, as the story continues she is starting to doubt if what she does is right “once I suffer I will know that I was wrong” (p. 106). She also confesses that she would not do this for anyone but her brother, making it seem more egoistic than when she claimed that it was because she followed the greater laws of the gods.