Pg. 82

In this passage, we see Antigone essentially mocking King Creon for thinking that his established state laws could surpass divine laws. After King Creon finds out that it was his niece Antigone who gave Polynieces a proper burial, he asks Antigone how she still had the courage to go against his law, even if it meant death. Antigone responds by saying that she followed the gods’ laws, not the state’s law. Looking at Antigone at face value, we see no direct interaction between the gods and mortals; however, it is clear that the gods have an indirect effect on the characters’ beliefs and what they do during the course of the tragedy. Antigone is shown throughout the play as a character who consistently honors divine law over state law, as she says that a law made by “a mere mortal” could not override “the great unwritten, unshakable traditions.” By showing her reverence for the gods, Antigone also shows irreverence for the state. Even though she realized the consequences of burying her brother, she did so anyways, aware that irreverence to the gods is much worse than irreverence to the state. In contrast with Antigone, Creon honors the state law over divine law. However, as the play progresses, we see Creon’s hypocritical and contradicting nature as he becomes unsure of his actions. Although Creon sentences Antigone to death for violating the state law, divine law proves to be much more powerful in the end when Creon finally realizes and admits that his law is, in fact, unjust.