Kreon subscribes to ‘human law’, written or explicitly stated rules of conduct that govern the people within a state, enforced through direct punishment.Sophocles underscores the difference between divine law and human law, highlighting the gap between mortal, finite knowledge and omniscient, ‘divine’ knowledge.
Antigone strongly disagrees. She refutes the claim that Kreon has any jurisdiction over burial rites, and can ban her from completing a ceremony that she is ordained by the Gods to complete. Antigone claims that Kreon’s law opposes the “...the eternal laws of Heaven.”(Line 77) Antigone is willing to die to do her duty by Polyneices and, as she is led away to die, she appeals to the people of Thebes, saying “you will remember what…show more content… Kreon, the newly minted King of Thebes, assumes the throne determined to set right the wrongs of Polyneices and heal the wounds that war has left on the city. Early in his reign over Thebes, he asserts his inelastic belief in man-made law. He places his faith in the state, saying to the city councilors that “It is the city that protects us all... only when she rides safe and sound can we make loyal friends.” (Lines 188-190) In Greek culture, the throne is a monarch’s divine right, and a royal’s political legitimacy comes from the Gods. Thus, because he is king, Kreon’s will is sovereign because he acts with the backing of the Gods. After Kreon explains his law against burying Polyneices to the councilmen, they agree that “You, being sovereign, make what laws you will, both for the dead and those of us who live.” (Lines 213-214) If a king is chosen by the Gods to rule in their stead, wouldn’t it stand to reason that Kreon’s will is also the will of the Gods? Though Kreon’s initial edict against burying Polyneices is somewhat
