p.82

This stanza, from Sophocles’ Antigone, reiterates various themes encountered in the tragedy such as state law versus divine law, the lack of a democratic apparatus in Thebes, and the institution of the family. More importantly, however, it depicts the stance of Antigone, the tragic heroine, and Creon, the king and tragic hero, in regards to these themes. That is, while Antigone champions divine law, loves her family and stands for democracy, Creon embodies state law, social order and the oligarchy.

Moving along, previous to Antigone’s words, Creon just became king of Thebes and decrees that no one provide a proper burial ceremony for Polynices, Antigone’s brother and leader of the army attacking Thebes, for he is a traitor. However, because Antigone believes in divine law and loves her brother, Antigone defies Creon and buries her brother. In response, after discovering Antigone is the culprit, Creon interrogates her, asking her if she knew he had prohibited Polynices’ burial. To which Antigone valiantly and even sardonically responds that she did. Further, she proclaims, “It wasn’t Zeus…nor did that Justice, dwelling with the gods/ Beneath the earth, ordain such laws for men.” As it is evident by the quote, Antigone proposes that she lives to serve the gods and not humans. To explicate, she references Zeus, Justice, and the gods, in order to denounce Creon’s decree, for she states the gods never “ordain[ed] such laws for men.” On the contrary, the gods established that all humans be properly interred; hence, Antigone must follow divine law and bury his beloved brother. Moreover, Antigone condemns Creon’s edict, for she believed it “could [not] override the gods,/ The great unwritten, unshakeable traditions.” In other words, Antigone attacks Creon’s hamartia, his lack of respect for divine law, and hubris. To explain, later in the play Creon arrogantly claims, “not even if Zeus’s eagles rip the corpse/ And wing their rotten pickings off to the throne of the god!” This provides the perfect example of Creon’s hubris and insolence towards the king of gods, Zeus. He simply suggests that even the king of gods could not make him retract his edict, the ultimate insult towards divine law. Creon’s belief that he must rule with an iron fist and his hubris, blind him of his duty towards the gods, his family and Thebes. In addition, fearing Nemesis, the spirit of divine retribution, (line 511), Antigone suggests she must bury her brother, for Polynices is her “own flesh and blood” (p.59). Therefore, Antigone establishes the theme of her commitment towards her family and her love for her kin.

In all, whereas Creon’s hubris obscures his judgment, weakens his commitment to the Greek gods and allows him to deem human law anterior to divine law, Antigone upholds the laws created by the gods, denounces socially constructed laws and displays his love for her family.