Kreon And Polyneikes In Sophocles Antigone

In a society torn between obedience and dissent, individuals divide themselves between those who uphold their moral compass and those who passively accept the commands of tyranny. In “Antigone”, the main character, Antigone, defies the king, Kreon, by burying her brother. After the death of Antigone’s brothers, Eteokles and Polyneikes, Kreon decides that since Polyneikes betrayed the city, he did not deserve a proper burial. Antigone, a grieving sister, believed that he did. To avenge her brother and give him the respect she believed he deserved, she buried him at the cost of her life. After Kreon discovers this, he sentences her to a painful death. In Sophocles' tragedy, Antigone symbolizes the struggle between individual moral law and state …show more content…
Her choice to bury her brother could have shown Kreon that she supported Polyneikes’ beliefs, even if she did not. This demonstration of rebellion, although strictly meant to bring justice to Polyneikes, not only breaks the king’s edict, but also revolts against the city. At the same time, unlike her brother, whose rebellion against the city led to conflict and bloodshed, Antigone does not actively seek to incite rebellion or undermine the city's authority. Instead, her disobedience stems from a desire to honor her familial obligations, but this remained unknown to Kreon. To truly understand Antigone’s logic, Antigone should have reasoned with Kreon before disobeying him, and he should have listened to her and the people of Thebes, for “it is not a city if one man owns it” (Sophocles 815). While Antigone's act of civil disobedience roots in her commitment to her familial duty, the tragic consequences of her defiance underscore the complexities of challenging unjust laws. Her intentions may have been noble, but the lack of understanding between Antigone and Kreon ultimately leads to a tragic outcome for

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