Antigone, by Sophocles Essay - 853 Words

In a democracy, people choose representatives to lead and govern them. However, these representatives might take unpopular steps. In such instances the people may show their disapproval of a policy and vent their grievances through acts of civil disobedience. Henry Thoreau said, â€Å"It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.† It is both the right and responsibility of a person to fight an unjust law, and civil disobedience allows one to convey his thoughts and ideas in a passive, nonviolent way. In Sophocles’ Antigone, written in 442 B.C., we find one of the earliest examples of civil disobedience. The play emphasizes the right of the individual to reject his government’s infringement on his freedom to†¦show more content†¦She believes that her courage and sacrifice through her defiance of Creon’s law will make him see the error of his ways and help bring a positive change. She passionately protests to Cre on that his decision is not right. Yet Creon, somewhat blinded and conceited with this newly acquired power, remains stubborn and does not change. Antigone says to him: Look on me †¦ I alone, see what I suffer now at the hands of breed of men- all for reverence, my reverence for the gods! (Sophocles, pg. 107). This shows how Antigone believed that the power of the gods was greater than the power of any king. If she had obeyed Creon, she would have disobeyed the higher power of the gods. One important issue here is the clash of principles between Creon and Antigone. Creon believes in conformity to man-made laws while Antigone stresses for the higher laws of duty to the gods and ones family. Her statement also points out the inequality at that time between men and women. Yet this act of courage from Antigone gave hope to the silent masses - men and women - to stand up for what is just, as it was their right to have justice and freedom in a democracy. The distinct views of Creon a nd Antigone regarding the method of government tell their different perspectives of civil disobedience. Creon demands obedience toShow MoreRelatedAntigone By Sophocles Antigone1478 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout Antigone, Antigone is a presented as a strong woman who is both dedicated to her family and her community. That said, there is much conflict between these two dedications. In this paper, I will give examples of Antigone’s different individual responsibilities and her philosophies and explain how those conflict with the commitment that she is to have to her community and indirectly, her king. Ultimately, I will argue that Sophocles demonstrated his values of family, the way of the godsRead MoreSophocles Antigone By Sophocles Essay1869 Words   |  8 PagesIn Sophocles’ play Antigone, two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices fight for the thrown of Thebes. 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