Justice In Sophocles Antigone

Sophocles, Antigone In this story, what I thought about the most was the different conflicts brought up through the story that stem off of the differing opinions of justice from each character and family member. There was a conflict between Antigone’s two brothers, and then between Creon and Antigone over the death of Polyneices, and ultimately between Antigone and herself. They all seemed to have differing opinions on how justice should be served in situations and what justice was. Creon, who became ruler after the death of Polyneices and Eteocles in battle, believed justice was brought through swift punishments after a person broke the law. Antigone believed justice was doing what was morally right in all situations, no matter what the consequences were if a law was broken in

Polyneices left the city because he thought he deserved all of the power, he came back with an entire army so he could battle his way to the throne. Polyneices and Eteocles both ended up passing away leaving the throne to their uncle—Creon. Creon ruled, and since he thought that justice was to be served by punishment when a law was broken and he thought that laws should be followed in all situations no matter what, he declared that Polyneices body should stay where he lay fallen from battle and rot so that justice could be brought to the city after the battle of the brothers. Polyneices fought against his own city and brother, so his punishment was that he was not to be given a proper burial after his death. Even though Creon was Polyneices’ uncle, he stood his ground on the side of the law and said that if anyone were to bury Polyneices, they would be put to death for going against his ruling word. Creon felt it was just to not bury his nephew, because he had gone against the law of the land and fought against his own people and this is how Creon felt would be honorable to his