Antigone

Antigone is a tragedy written by Greek playwright Sophocles. This play portrays many conflicts that humans go through in their lives. The backdrop of the story is set in the competing motives of a teenager girl Antigone and her Uncle, the king Creon. Antigone had two brothers who killed each other in a battle to the throne. Upon their death, Creon declared that, since Eteocles was the one who was fighting to save the state and Polynices was trying to evade it only the former should be rewarded with the rites of death. And the body of Plynices should be left to the dogs and birds without burying.

Antigone considers it her duty to provide proper burial to her brother Polynices also. She out rightly disobeys the decree made by Creon which instructs people not to touch or bury the body of Polynices. Creon’s position is that since Polynices was an enemy of the state, society, no personal relations or duties to him should be observed. On the other hand Antigone thinks that whatever may be the stand of the society, personal duties to her brother must be observed.

This point brings about the oft felt dilemma between the society and the individual. It paints a picture where what an individual considers to be correct and essential is at complete contrast with what society holds true. Antigone believes that the laws made by humans are inferior to the laws made by god and therefore she can disobey them. Creon strictly maintains that laws of the state should be above everything and no personal ties of relationship should prevent one from following them.

Creon sends Antigone to the prison, with an intention to kill her. However he later realizes that due to this act Gods are angry at the state. However by the time he knows this he is far too committed to the decision of killing Antigone and hence can’t reverse it. Creon’s son Haemon was in love with Antigone. He kills himself when he finds that his father killed his fiancé only in order to set an example, win a debate or prove a point that his opinion was correct.

On hearing the news of Haemon’s death, Creon’s wife also commits suicide. Creon is the only character alive at the end of the play. The play leaves reader with several questions, who was more right between Creon and Antigone? Intuitively we may find Antigone to be right yet, Creon’s stand can also not be entirely wrong or rejected. Definition of what is just, is also something that becomes very crucial in the play.

But just as in the play, most of the times just can’t be defined, universally. And if it were left to the personal definitions, people will only use it to commit unjust acts all the time under the garb of personal definition of justice.