Antigone's fight against what she sees as an immoral civil law leads the charge in themes surrounding the greek tragedy. what is the difference between civil and moral laws and how is that expressed through Sophocles’ Antigone? Antigones’ constant fight against King Creon ends in the death of three and leads the crooked king himself, to question his own civil law and follow his morals, much too late. In the case of Antigone Moral law should have been followed and she should not have been put to dealth.
Written law is defined as “any law and subordinate legislation made or issued by any body or person having power or authority under any law to make or issue the same”. In Antigone, The written law is that of King Creon and the proclamation in question is the order to let Polynecious die in the streets. In the public eye moral law is preferred through Thebes, with Haemon saying to his father, the king that “the gods have given man good sense… then do not have one mind, and one alone, that only one opinion can be right.” (Haemon 683, 705)
The moral law is living the way you feel is right, in the case of Antigone, moral law is gods law. Following what the gods want for a proper burial is Antigones way of doing what she and the other citizens of Thebes thought were right, besides The king's proclamation. There are many examples of Thebians breaking the Written Law in favor of their own principles, such as Haemon defying his father, visiting Antigone, and attempting to kill Creon. “He drew his sword, but as his father ran he missed his aim. (Messenger 1230)
In many societies across history, especially Theocracies, Moral law has reigned supreme with many claiming that religions were made to keep people acting morally and respectfully, knowing that there is someone watching over them and judging them on their actions. Christianity across the middle ages was used to convince the public to donate money to the church, elect religious leaders to positions of power, or even send them off to die in holy wars. The laws of greek burial rites hold many similarities with the ruling of Christianity in that many will break the written law to fulfill their moral needs and desires to follow their principles. Such as Antigone burying her brother despite the written law forbaying it.
In conclusion, the benefits of the moral law in the case of Antigone overpower the unjust civil (written) law of king Creon. There have been many examples f moral law working throughout history, shown through antigone with the city supporting her silently while she breaks the civil law of thebes.
Comments
Post a Comment