Justifiable Actions In Antigone

Some actions are justifiable, while others are not. Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written in 441 B.C. as the third of the three Theban plays. The protagonist, Antigone, defies the law of man, placed by King Creon, by burying her brother Polynices who was decreed a traitor. In the play, most of Antigone's actions are justifiable because the intentions are dedicated to her family and following the law of the gods over the law of man. Through her civil disobedience, Antigone displays her love of her family by protecting their well being for the cost of her own life. When Antigone tells Ismene about the decree that bans them from burying their brother, Antigone argues she will bury their brother even for her life: “[Creon] has no right to

Antigone declares to Ismene that defying Creon's proclamation will be seen as heroic to the gods: "I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory. I will lie with the one I love and loved by him outrage sacred to the gods! I have longer to please the dead than please the living here: in the kingdom down below I'll lie forever" (85-90). Even though Creon decreed that Polynices is not to be buried because he is a traitor, Ancient Greek culture believes that all humans, traitor and heros, are to be buried. Antigone explicitly states that her act of civil disobedience will be praised by those who truly matter, the gods, and that death is eternal life. When Antigone is brought forth to face Creon for charges of burying Polynices, she argues that he has no authority to override traditions: “It wasn’t Zeus...who made this proclamation...Nor did that justice, dwelling with the gods, beneath the earth, ordain such laws for men. Nor do I think your edict had such force, that you a mere mortal, could override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakable traditions” (499­-505). Even once she is brought forth to face the kind, Antigone displays no remorse for her actions because she truly believes she did the right thing according to the gods and that Creon is merely a human with no real power. A mortal who proclaims something, especially against tradition, is no match for the powerful, immortal gods. In conclusion, Antigone's actions are based on what she believes the gods would approve of, such as protecting