Morality In Sophocles Antigone

The Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles takes place in Thebes during the aftermath of the reign of Oedipus. Kreon is the ruler of Thebes and the uncle to Antigone yet the familial bond is disregarded mostly due to the shame of the incestuous nature of Kreon’s nieces and nephews. After a civil war of Antigone’s brothers, which results in both of their deaths, Polyneices is left unburied; this is the beginning of the tragedy. Both Kreon and Antigone made many questionable decisions that led to the death and suffering of many but I sympathize with Antigone because her decisions were based on her emotions, morals, and the perceived god’s law. Through the analysis of Kreon, we find he has many human flaws. His good intentions result in tragic consequences.

Judging morality in this play is very difficult. Kreon seems to be in the wrong, but is Antigone not also in the wrong for defying authority? Her civil disobedience was based on her set of morals and her ideals when it comes to the rights of a human being. She backs this up with her religious view as seen here “It was not Zeus who made this proclamation; nor was it Justice dwelling with the gods below who set in place such laws as these for humankind.” (450-453). Antigone seems more morally good and therefore we feel more compassion for her. Antigone is a more emotional character than Kreon. She mentions the love she has for her brother and the importance of her family in the first conversation she has with Ismene (1-99). I believe that her initial reasoning for wanting to bury Polyneices body is because the emotions of grief over took her as exemplified here “I’ll lie there, dear to him, with my dear friend,” (73). Her emotions overtake her in the end when she kills herself and dies a martyr’s death. The chorus feels for her in this quote “Still the selfsame blasts of the selfsame winds of the spirit are gripping this woman.”