Morality vs. Law

In Antigone Sophocles present the common dilemma of law versus personal moral values. In the play he introduces this under the circumstances of the death of Antigone brother, Polyneices who died at the sward of his brother Eteocles. Creon, now ruler of Thebes, has decided that while Etocles will receive a proper burial, Polyneices will be left to rot as food for the birds and wild dogs. He has decided on criminal punishment for whoever tries to burry Polyneices. Antigone knows that it is wrong to leave her brother to rot without a proper burial so she breaks the law laid out by Creon and proceeds to do all that is necessary to burry him. For her criminal action she boldly faces her punishment, death by starvation and isolation in a sealed cavern. Unfortunately after a half hearted decision fueled by fear Creon attempts to free her only to find her to have committed suicide, and his son Haemon about to endure the same fate.

I completely agree with Antigone's decision to go against the law and do what she believed to be right especially when she knew that the law was set by a corrupt ruler in the first place. If she had not abided by her own moral values I'm sure the guilt she would have had to deal with the rest of her life would have driven her to the same fate. This would have also added to Creon's pride knowing that he had absolute power over Antigone and the people of Thebes. Antigone challenged his authority and ultimately paid for her decision but died knowing what she did was right.

In my own life i have yet to face such a decision as Antigone did, but I'm sure the day will come. I cannot guarantee that i will make as bold of a decision because honestly my choice would be influenced by the severity of the consequences. A historical figure that put this fear aside for what she believed in was Rosa Parks. When ordered to give up her seat for a white person she simply broke the law by refusing. The consequence of her bold action led her to end up behind bars, but ended up letting free the makings of a revolution in American History.