Analysis Of Antigone 'By Sophocles' Perception Of Law

Antigonê and the Perception of Law Law is meant to protect the masses and set regulations but it can be abused by corrupt leaders, especially given a position of power. In Sophocles’ play Anitgonê, the perception of law is thoroughly challenged when Antigonê buries her brother, Polyneices, despite Creon’s order. Creon is a tyrant king who believes that he is above the gods and is the law. In contrast, Sophocles views the gods as the law and believes that they have the power to determine what is right or wrong. Sophocles applies his beliefs in the play Antigonê by presenting the Chorus, Creon, and Antigonê’s perception of law. The Chorus is the voice of the people and Sophocles shows their perception of law to support his idea of the gods

Creon displays his hubris by explaining how fit he is to govern the state: “I’ll have no dealings / With lawbreakers, critics of the government: / Whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed— / Must be obeyed, in all things, great and small, / Just and unjust! O Haimon, / The man who knows how to obey, and that man only, / Knows how to give commands when the time comes, / You can depend on him … good lives are made so by discipline. / We keep the laws then, and the lawmakers”(Scene Ⅲ. 33-46). Creon views himself as the law and believes that only he can govern the state. He abuses his power and and uses the law to show his superiority. His hubris undoubtedly foreshadows his demise, proving Sophocles’ philosophy of the power of the gods. After the catastrophe, Creon realizes his faults, “a god / Has crushed me beneath the hugest weight of heaven … Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust”(Exodos. 94-138). Creon finds his hamartia and realizes that the gods ruined his life because of his hubris. The anagnorisis proves that the gods are the law and get to decide what is correct and incorrect. Since Creon is hubristic and flaunts his power, the gods discipline him and kill his family. The punishment is so great that he, too, wants to die which further supports Sophocles’ claim. Sophocles uses Creon’s perception of law to aid his idea of the gods being the