The importance of divine law versus the adherence to the laws of the state is a major theme explored throughout the play, Antigone. Creon (the king of Thebes) denounces Polyneices (Antigone’s dead brother) as a traitor, for he battled against his own city in a war. He has left the dead body of Polyneices unburied and out in the open as carrion. The king then says that anyone who tries to give Polyneices a proper burial will be stoned to death. Antigone, inspired by divine law, makes the decision to bury her dead brother’s body; both she and Creon provide justification throughout the play as to why they chose to act in the ways they did.

In the beginning of Act II, the Sentry (one of Creon’s guards) enters to tell Creon that Polyneices has been buried. The idea that the gods may have buried the body is brought up by the Chorus; however, Creon dismisses the idea, claiming that the gods would never honor a traitor with a burial. Creon then orders the Sentry to find the person who has buried the body. Later in the act, the Sentry enters again, this time with Antigone. The Sentry tells Creon that Antigone is responsible fo

In conclusion, both Antigone and Creon have rational explanations for their actions. There really is no apparent answer of who is right and who is wrong. Antigone is provoked by her faith while Creon is only trying to be obedient to his people. However, in the end, many deaths show Creon that indeed, his actions were unwarranted. He had no one to blame for the needless deaths except for himself.

I believe Antigone’s act was morally correct. First of all, she is only doing something that she truly believes in – that is, guaranteeing her brother’s contentment in afterlife through a proper burial. Secondly, she believes that divine laws are far more important than the laws of the land. Toward the end of Act II (lines 500-502), Antigone says to Creon, “It wasn’t Zeus, not in the least, who made this proclamation – not to me. Nor did that justice, dwelling with the gods beneath the earth, ordain such laws for men.” With this statement, Antigone tells Creon (and the readers) that the gods haven’t given Creon, although king, the power and right to make a law forbidding a proper burial. She also says to Creon, “I do not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten, unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man.” Her belief supports the gods and their laws – if a pers

Some topics in this essay:
Antigone Creon, Hence Creon, Polyneices Antigone’s, Act II, Creon Antigone, Justification Crimes, Chorus Creon, Creon Sentry, Creon Polyneices, Sentry Creon’s, antigone creon, divine law, act ii, burial creon, proper burial, creon antigone, antigone’s dead, truly believes, creon king, throughout play,