The comparison of Mahatma Gandhi and Antigone may seem like an unlikely one, given that they were from different cultures and time periods. However, upon closer examination, these two figures share several similarities. Firstly, both Gandhi and Antigone prioritized moral law over civil law. Secondly, they both engaged in acts of civil disobedience to combat oppressive regimes. Thirdly, their actions inspired others to follow their lead. Fourthly, they were both willing to face severe consequences for their beliefs.
One of the most significant similarities between Gandhi and Antigone is their prioritization of moral law over civil law. For Antigone, this meant burying her brother in accordance with divine law, despite the king’s decree forbidding
…show more content…
In Antigone’s case, this took the form of openly defying the king’s decree and burying her brother’s body anyway. In Gandhi’s case, it took the form of organizing boycotts and protests against British rule, leading marches and even going on hunger strikes to raise awareness of the injustices he and his followers faced.
Gandhi and Antigone also both inspired others to follow their lead. Antigone’s refusal to obey the king’s decree inspired her sister, Ismene, to reconsider her own beliefs and eventually join Antigone in defying the king’s law. Gandhi’s advocacy of nonviolence and civil disobedience inspired millions of people in India and around the world to peacefully resist injustice and discrimination.
Both Gandhi and Antigone were also willing to face severe consequences for their actions. Antigone was sentenced to be locked up in an underground vault, where she ultimately died of starvation. Gandhi was arrested and imprisoned multiple times throughout his life, enduring beatings and other forms of torture, as well as facing assassination
…show more content…
Antigone believed that divine law was higher than human law and that it was her duty to honor her brother’s corpse. Gandhi believed in equal rights for all people regardless of race or caste and fought for India’s independence using nonviolent means.
Furthermore, both figures were willing to go against societal norms in pursuit of their goals. Antigone was a woman in a society where women were not expected to speak out or defy the king’s authority. Gandhi was an Indian in a society where British rule was accepted as the norm.
Both Gandhi and Antigone also recognized and spoke out against the injustices of their respective societies. In Antigone’s case, it was the oppression of women and the corruption of the leadership. In Gandhi’s case, it was the oppression of Indians under British rule and the discrimination faced by lower castes in Indian society.
Finally, both Gandhi and Antigone were seen as martyrs for their causes. Antigone’s death served as a rallying cry for future generations to fight for their beliefs even in the face of overwhelming adversity. Gandhi’s assassination on January 30, 1948, saddened millions around the world and cemented his place in history as a powerful advocate of social justice and