Struggle and Inner Conflict

In Sophocles' play, Antigone, readers first meet sisters, Ismene and Antigone. 
Both sisters are grieving the loss of their brothers, Polynecies and Eteocles, who 
were at war with one another. Eteocles was viewed by the city, Thebes, as a hero 
for defending their land and Polynecies was viewed as the enemy, for attacking the 
land. Creon, Antigone and Ismene's Uncle, becomes the King of this city that once 
belong to both brothers. As King, Creon rules on the burial of the fallen brothers. 
He allows for a proper burial ceremony for Eteocles for dieing while protecting 
the city. However, his proclamation regarding Polynecies stated, "I here proclaim 
to the city that this man shall no one honor with a grave and none shall
mourn" (Creon 222-223). Creon also states that anyone who does bury
Polynecies will be sentenced to death. Antigone, aware of the law, defies this 
proclamation and buries her brother Polynecies. Creon believes that the
responsibility of obeying civil law is of utmost importance, while Antigone believes 
that the most important responsibility bestowed upon humans is to obey their
moral conscience.

Creon, in becoming King, acts as though he has blessed the city and finally 
found the right city to rule. An example is when he states, "For yourselves, I 
chose you out of all and summoned you to come to me, partly because I knew 
you as always loyal to the throne" (Creon 182-184). In addition, Creon also 
believes that obedience to civil law is most important because he is who sets the 
laws. Therefore, when he proclaimed to leave Polynecies' body to rot, Antigone 
was conflicted. In Ancient Greece, not providing a proper burial for someone was 
considered disgraceful. Creon stated his law to begin his power in the city. After 
finding out that Antigone, his niece, has broken his law he finds himself struggling 
to prove his power. 

Antigone buried her brother Polynecies for her own morality. She felt that it 
was wrong to allow one brother to rot in the streets and the other to be buried 
and granted the right of the afterlife. While telling Ismene that she plans to bury 
Polynecies, Ismene states, "You are so headstrong. Creon has forbidden 
it" (Ismene 53). Antigone's response shows the reader what is more important to 
her, moral or civil law. Antigone responds, "It is not for him to keep me from my 
own" (Antigone 54). In her response, Antigone proves to the readers that she 
values her own morals more than the laws of her state. She continues, 
throughout the play, to show her side of this issue. Another example is in a 
conversation with Creon, "So for such as me, to face such a fate as this is pain 
that does not count. But if I dared to leave the dead man, my mother's son, dead 
and unburied, that would have been real pain. The other is not. Now, if you think 
me a fool to act like this, perhaps it is a fool that judges so" (Antigone 509-514). 
She expresses to Creon that she does not feel sorry for her act and does not 
fear her own death because she will be killed for what she believes is the morally 
correct thing to do.

Both characters represent a part of what humans possess, the responsibility to 
obey the written laws and the need to remain human by putting personal guilt, 
regret, and morals first. People are faced with this conflict everyday while at work 
or school.