The Greek tragedy “Antigone” explores the themes of the conflict between the law and the internal sense of right and wrong. The main heroine Antigone defies the orders of King Creon, who has decided to refuse burial to one of her late brothers while surrounding the other with laurels. Despite the dangers of such disobedience, Antigone ploys to perform a burial to the dishonored Polynices and gets caught by Creon. In my opinion, the tragedy touches on two central themes: the potential of fallacy in the enforced laws and the spiritual importance of grief and mourning.
I believe it is a common experience for people faced with injustices to feel powerless against the more privileged groups, who are typically in far greater control of their surroundings. Paradoxically, those who have the greatest power to design and enforce rules for others frequently consider themselves to be an exception. Namely, refusing anyone a burial would be considered an unimaginable blasphemy in ancient Greece, where people believed it to be necessary for the smooth transition to the afterlife. Thus, Creon clearly abuses the power of his position as a king too, essentially, committing an atrocity against Polynices.
When asked by Creon if she was aware of the prohibition before attempting the burial, Antigone admits that she was and openly denies the unjust order. She states that Creon’s orders were “laws were not ordained of Zeus,” but instead contradict the higher and fairer order of the heaven. Her anger and internal rebellion against what is correct in favor of what is right resonated with me on a personal level. Throughout the year 2020, I have experienced powerlessness and sometimes even fury when learning of the continuous power abuse committed by people and institutions in positions of authority.
I sympathized greatly with the widespread wave of protests against the establishments that shook Western society in recent months. The realization of how easy it is for persons in power to twist the law to their advantage is horrifying, as socially, we do not have a functioning alternative. It is obvious to me that the world cannot exist without law, order, and trusted officials to represent and, to a degree, control the people they represent. Yet Antigone’s insistence on how rebelling against unfair and unreasonable laws might sometimes be the best way to honor what is truly right inspires recognition in me.
The emotional importance of grief and mourning is another thematically important element of the tragedy I wanted to reflect on. Socially, we are encouraged to stay positive no matter what, always focus on the bright side and, in general, carry on with a smile regardless of personal circumstances. However, I have always found this approach counter-productive and incredibly emotionally taxing, not to mention unfair to those who have just experienced a loss or a personal tragedy. This is where “Antigone” resonates with me on this topic, proving that many fundamental human emotions have existed and been relevant long before modern times.
Although Eteocles is proclaimed a hero in death and Polynices condemned and dishonored, Antigone mourns both of her brothers equally. Her grief and pain are burning so strongly. She decides to go against the direct orders of the king. This decision is even more impressive when we apply the cultural context of ancient Greece with its harsh punishment system for treason and disobedience to the officials. Daughter of Oedipus, Antione has lived a life of luxury and comfort and is, therefore, a privileged upper-class woman. Many may say she has not experienced true loss and hardship prior to the loss of her brothers and the subsequent order of Creon. It makes me think of the ways I am privileged to study in college and write this paper in the first place, taking advantage of one of the many opportunities I have access to. However, grief and loss remain as horrifying for her as they are for everyone else. Sophocles has caught the unifying and burning feeling that loss brings upon people of all backgrounds, no matter class, and social status.
I believe it is natural for all people to resent the unfair laws that have been created to favor the rich and powerful. It is not less natural to experience intense grief and the desire to express mourning over the loss of someone important to you. I am unsure if I would be able to directly challenge someone as powerful as king Creon in a similar situation. The cultural context and legal system have changed drastically since the time the play was written in. Yet, the emotions that lie at the core of “Antigone” have no expiration date. This tragedy made me ask myself questions about the sort of world we live in and the ways in which the law might not always be right. It allowed me to re-contextualize some of my complicated feelings on the matters of power, grief, privilege, rebellion, and loss.