Creon's Decisions In Antigone Essay

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Antigone is a play written by Sophocles that focuses on the consequences of Antigone's decision to defy her uncle the king and bury her brother Polyneices. The play presents Antigone as a brave and noble character who is willing to sacrifice her life to bury her brother, which is a death sentence. Although her uncle, King Creon, sees her decision as treasonous, Antigone's actions are justified when she honors her brother in ways only known. First, it is important to note why King Creon feels guilty about Antigone's actions. Creon makes it clear that the body of Polyneices must not be buried because he is a traitor and an enemy of the state. As he states in the play, "No man who helps a traitor can be honored with burial" (Sophocles, line …show more content…

Despite Creon's point of view, Antigone's decision to bury her brother is justified. Antigone's action is out of love and respect for her brother, and it respects the laws of the gods. As Antigone says in the play, "Not even the power of a king can deny me the right to bury him" (Sophocles, line 70). He recognizes that it is his duty to respect the divine laws and bury Polyneices with due respect. This is a sign of his loyalty to his brother and dedication to maintaining moral order. Another reason why Antigone is justified in her decision to bury her brother is that her action is a form of protest against Creon's tyranny. By burying Polyneices, he defends justice and respect for the rights of citizens. This is illustrated in the play when Antigone says, "I maintain that no one has the right to do evil and be honored for it" (Sophocles, line 55). Antigone's decision to bury her brother is a powerful statement of her commitment to justice and her refusal to accept Creon's