pg. 82: Antigone's Principles and their Consequences (other passages included)

Throughout the play Antigone the audience is focused on Creon’s flaws, most prominently his hubris. However, Antigone was also made susceptible to something akin to hubris, although in a different, more subtle context than Creon’s blatant display of it. Because of her unwillingness to compromise her own principles, Antigone's actions have also led to dire consequences that not only affected her but others as well. When Antigone confesses her actions to Creon that she did indeed buried Polyneices and “it wasn’t Zeus…who made this proclamation”, she does so proudly in admitting her actions as a result of her own independent thinking (pg. 82, l. 499-500). While Creon's decisions are based on his natural power of the state, Antigone claims hers are under the protection and approval of the gods, so she mocks Creon as a fool for believing a “mere mortal, could override the gods" (pg. 82, l. 504). Antigone criticizes Creon for only respecting the laws of the state while ignoring divine ordinance and that such limited perception will cause him to exceed his privilege as a king and as a father. Antigone is therefore convinced that she possesses a higher, more insightful foundation of justice and regards Creon’s distorted grasp of justice inferior to hers. Because of Antigone’s philos concerning family and her obedience divine laws she ultimately considers Creon’s verdict to not bury Polyneices a betrayal both to the gods and to their family.

With such strong self assurance that her words and behavior are beyond anyone else’s comprehension it inadvertently causes Antigone to isolate herself, to not gain anymore enemies but also allies. Although in the beginning of the play she does ask for her sister’s assistance, Ismene’s timid reaction may be what created the momentum for Antigone’s isolation. When Ismene refuses to partake in Polyneice’s burial, she at least shows loyalty by swearing to keep her silence to protect Antigone. Instead of placating Antigone, it incites her scorn as she dared Ismene to “shout it from the rooftops. [She’ll] hate [her] all the more for silence—tell the world!” (pg. 62, l. 100-101). Based on Antigone’s value on family loyalty, her loss of support from her closest blood tie causes her to judge everyone else too as unworthy to understanding the depths of her convictions.

Instead of surrendering to fear and helplessness by the betrayal of Creon’s decree and of her sister’s hesitant nature, Antigone finds the strength for her courage and sacrifice to bury Polyneices through the direction of “the great unwritten unshakable traditions” (pg. 82, l. 505). This indicates Antigone’s state of mind, as she seems to find more solace and obligation towards the dead than with the living. When she is about to enter her tomb she declares she will “suffer now at the hands of what breed of men—all for reverence, [her] reverence for the gods!”, interpreting her death by the orders of the state and family as a test to carry herself not as a victim, but as a martyr (pg. 107, l. 133-135). With the majority of her family dead and her loss of confidence to state and remaining family she is not just prepared to die, but wants to die. If not for such strong convictions and unwavering resolve for martyrdom she would not have resorted to suicide, which is what set the motions for the tragedy of the play.