Stronger Case Antigone Or Creon Philosophy Essay

Stronger Case Antigone Or Creon Philosophy EssayAt the centre of The Burial at Thebes is the contest between the belief that the gods should var. the basis of moral behaviour in the aver, presented by Antigone and Creons fictional character that the faggot crowd out define what is correct behaviour. I shall go through the school text and pick out passages that ar relevant to the incidents presented. My ratiocination will be based on which case has the most support throughout the text, body the most consistent and also the desire of the protagonists to see their views through to the decease.Antigone presents her case during the plays prologue. She believes Creons general order forbidding the burial of Polyneices is morally wrong and states all the way that she is going to bury his body (Heaney, 2004, p51). It is important to none that women played a central role in the religious conventions of funeral rites and practices (Hardwirck, 2008, p195), and these even upts contr asted with the usual exclusion of women from Grecian public life. This issue is raised by Ismene who citers herself and Antigone as two women on our own who we essential do as were told (p5).It is made clear in this passage that Antigone grapples she will be sentenced to death for defying Creon, something she has not intention of covering up. For Antigone burying her brother is a matter of showing honour to the nonviable (the ones youll be with the colossalest) and her belief that the gods will be proud of me (p6). The richness of value to the gods is a central discipline in the play and Antigones case is reinforced by her invocation to them and the immenseness of large the dead an appropriate burial. to begin with Creon has stated his case he has it beef up by the emit who describe him as right for this city at this time (p9) at the finish of the parados. Given that one function of the Chorus is to provide moral chit chat this is notable screeninging. Creon case, t hat Polyneices, a squealer, an anti- Theban Theban (p10), should not be conceal is stated during his firstborn rhesis. By giving this order Creon is not lone(prenominal) unforced to sacrifice family ties barely emphasising loyalty to the state.The security of, and loyalty to, the state is the at the heart of Creons case. His opening speech is an extended metaphor in which the state is a ship that he led to calmer waters (p8), and those that stood by him a loyal crew. Creon emphasises the words friend and family (p9) to spike his belief that individualized loyalty must forever and a day give way to truehearted craft (p9). After the war with Argos it makes mind that Creon would lack to install a sense of unity by honouring those that stood up for Thebes and highlight the importance of patriotic duty.Creon uses the gods to back up his case. For him they kept Thebes safe during the war with Argos and later on describes as preposterous the idea that the gods have had a hand( p14) in the burial of the traitor Polyneices. Creon believes his case here is strong for it would be illogical that the gods would side with Polyneices habituated that the city is under their protection (p14). If Creons view of the gods is correct, wherefore is case his strengthened but if, as the Chorus suggests, the gods have sided with Antigone than her belief that they will be proud of her appears to be true.Another theme Creon raises is his belief that dissent to his overshadow is money orientated. It warps minds and generally corrupts (p15) and is, in Creons mind, the reason why the guard has not apprehended the burier of Polyneices. When the guard suggests that the judge has misjudged everything (p16) he emphasises judge and mis when he speaks, giving an added sense of foreboding to his words. This is added to when he describes waiting for whatever execration.. the gods were sending (p19) when capturing Antigone. The theme of money and plague ar later returned to and hel p repose not only Creons case, but also himself.Antigones acceptance of death is highlighted when the guard describes how she showed no signs of panic (p20) and admitted breaking Creons law. The following agon gives each protagonist the opportunity to strengthen their cases. Antigone does this by emphasising the edict is not the law of Zeus and that she follows original, god-given laws (p20). By invoking the gods once more Antigone gives her case the backing of those that all in Thebes will worship long after Creon ceases to rule.Creon challenges Antigone when he asks if religion dictates the same for loyal and disloyal (p24). present he is supporting his belief that the gods value the security of Thebes and would not want to be joined by a traitor. When he would states he would know his enemy in the underworld (p24) Creon appears to be stating that the afterlife is a a continuation of this life, and the battles he has fought whereas for Antigone the next world is a place where u lt sins matter not and all are equal and thus that the gods are less concerned with mortal actions than Creon. With such differing views on the will of the gods the case that is the strongest will be the case that pleases the gods the most.The third end sticmythia with Haemon gives Creon the opportunity to recur and strengthen his case which he does with his opening speech. Here he restates the importance of discipline and obedience to the state when those go cities, homes and armies collapse (p15). Again Creon is stating the importance of stability as he did with his first speech and again he states that he expects his family to observe the discipline I expect from every citizen (p30). It is elusive to not respect Creons views here and the Chorus does just this when they state the he seems to make good sense (p31).By the end of the third episode the case laid out in Creons opening speech is brought to the fore. He has sacrificed his son for what he perceives to be the security o f the state and has proven that patriotic duty has triumphed over personal loyalty (p10). By relenting now Creon would destroy his case Antigone has to die for Creons case to remain strong and Creon shows that he is willing to accept the consequences of his actions when he tells the Chorus that Haemon can do his worst then (p35). Creon should have remembered the Choruss warning that anyone who oversteps what the city allows risks being model beyond the lookout (p16). Haemon tells Creon that People here in Thebes dont seem to think that Antigone is a danger. Creons solution that rulersare meant to be in charge should strengthen his case but it doesnt the Chorus also warned of the dangers of treating the lawas his own word (p33).The grace with which Antigone accepts her fate throughout the twenty-five percent episode strengthens her case. The Chorus believes that Antigone goes with her head held high and because you were noble (p37 39). It is difficult to not be moved when she s ays I close my eye on the sun. I turn my back on the light (p39) with emphasises on close, eye, sun, turn, back and light. Antigone system consistent and sees her case through to the end. In her final speech she reminds the referee that she has been punished for a reverence that was right (p41), that is a reverence to Hades, to the dead, even if they are enemies of the state and the duty of families to mourn their loved ones.By this level Creon can present his case as being successful. The state has won, and mortal that has shown a lack of loyalty has been punished as the law demanded. contempt this his case isnt as strong as it should be. The Chorus who who at first supported Creon and who he relied upon to be agents of the law (p11) have turned against him, and the warnings put to him earlier have still not been dealt with.The entry of Tiresias brings the end of Creons case. The plague the guard alluded too has become tangible, and the corpse of Polyneices is where the contag ion starts (p44). The king has been warned that the gods are revolted (p44) but when told that he can undo his mistake his first solvent is to accuse Tiresias of being bribed and his second sight.. well warped (p45). When Creon does relent it is because he has taken Antigones view that we should keep the established law (p48). This is a have it away u-turn that sees Creon accept Antigones case and proves beyond doubt that her case is the stronger of the two. It is too precise too late, Antigone is dead in her wedding dress with her beloved Haemon by her side, his mother and Creons wife Eurydice soon joins them in the underworld. Creon is destroyed he want(s) to spate death (p55) but can not. Antigone accepted the consequences of her actions but Creon has courted calamity (p56) and must accept the unknown to come.Using the criteria stated above I can only conclude that Antigone has been given the stronger case. If the play finished at the end of fourth episode it would be a hard decision but I would have sided with Antigone following her heartbreaking speeches. I would, as a modern reader, also be swayed by the belief that the state should not interfere in the religious practices of families and should not overturn centuries old traditions for policy-making reasons. Creons taking on of Antigones view and the Choruss final moral comment, that leaders should always rule by the gods and reverence them (p56), makes it impossible to draw a conclusion different to mine.