Cecil Lankford English 200 Final Paper ANTIGONE I. THE CENTRAL DILEMMA IN THE PLAY: In the play Antigone, the primary conflict is between Creon, the new king of Thebes and Antigone, the sister of the slain traitor Polynices. After Polynices had been killed attacking Thebes, Creon attempted to reenforce loyalty to the state by ordering that the body not be buried and that Polynices's death not be mourned, thus making an example of the fate of traitors. The penalty for disobeying this order was death. Antigone looked upon Polynices as just her brother regardless of what acts he had committed. She felt obligated to honor her brothers' death with a burial. Antigone believed that honoring the dead was a law passed down from the Gods and therefore superseded any law made by Creon or any other man. Both Creon and Antigone felt obligated to follow a conflicting set of rules. They thus came into conflict with one another. THE CENTRAL DILEMMA IN A BROADER SENSE: In a broader sense the conflict in Antigone could be viewed at different levels. There is the conflict between ones obligation to the laws of the State and ones obligation to the laws of God. The conflict could be also viewed as one between authority and conscience. Some people feel that by not actively pursuing what their conscience dictates, they themselves are in violation. I believe this to be a distinguishing factor between those who actively protest and those who are content to hold opposing opinions. The central dilemma could also be interpreted as a conflict between the pride of men and the pride of women, with the State representing men and Antigone representing women. II. Positions held by characters in Antigone: Antigone Antigone believed that the law made by Creon was in conflict and inferior to the laws of God that required that she bury her brother. She was determined to bury her brother even if it meant her death: "That order did not come from God. Justice, That dwells with the gods below, knows no such law, I did not think your edicts strong enough To overrule the unwritten unalterable laws Of God and heaven, you being only a man. They are not of yesterday or to-day, but everlasting, Though were they came from none of us can tell. Guilty of their transgression before God I cannot be, for any man on earth. I knew that I should have to die, of course." (Pg. 138) From the above passage we can also infer that Antigone believes laws made by man are only of a temporary nature. Antigone also believed that by not actively pursuing compliance with the laws of God, she would be defying the laws of God. To her sister Ismene who refused to risk her life and help bury Polynices, Antigone says; ".......Live, if you will; Live, and defy the holiest laws of heaven." (Pg. 128) Creon Creon believed that he was helping his country by making the law concerning Polynices: "...Our country is our life; only when she Rides safely, have we any friends at all. Such is my policy for our common weal. In pursuance of this, I have made a proclamation... I am determined that never, if I can help it, Shall evil triumph over good. Alive Or dead,....." (Pg. 131-132) However after his authority was challenged, the enforcement of his law became a matter of pride. In response to Haemon who was offering advice in support of Antigone's position Creon makes the following statements; "Indeed! Am I to take lessons at my time of life From a fellow of his age? I am king, and responsible only to myself... ...........Wrong? To respect my own authority?" (Pg. 146) Ismene Ismene would not help here sister bury Polynices. She felt that she could not challenge the power of men, which she felt was represented by the power of the State. She felt to do so would be insane: "....O think, Antigone; we are women; it is not for us To fight against men; our rulers are stronger than we, And we must obey in this, or in worse than this. May the dead forgive me, I can do no other But as I am commanded; to do more is madness...." (Pg. 128) Ismene also did not believe as Antigone did, that she was defying the laws of heaven by not actively pursuing them: ".......I do not defy them; but I cannot act Against the State. I am not strong enough." (Pg. 128) Haemon Haemon believed that his father had made a mistake by enforcing the law concerning Polynices's body: "Haemon: .........I know you are wrong, wrong." (Pg. 146) He believed that his father was in conflict with the higher authority of God. In response to his fathers statement about respecting his own authority, Haemon says; "What sort of respect tramples on all that is holy?" (Pg. 147) Haemon also tries to convince his father that he is not just concerned with the well being of his future wife, but with the well being of Creon himself: "Creon: Yet you plead her cause. Haemon: No, yours, and mine, and that of the gods of the dead." (Pg. 146) Teiresias Teiresias has observed a bad omen and believes that the actions taken by Creon are to blame: "........the blight upon us is your doing..." (Pg.153) Teiresias believed that it was Creon was wrong in what he did to the body of Polynices: "Teiresias:..Pay to the dead his due. Wound not the fallen. It is no glory to kill and kill again. My words are for your good,, as is my will, And should be acceptable, being for your good." (Pg 153) Teiresias also believed that what Creon did to Antigone was wrong. This is evident in the way he refers to Creon's action against Antigone: "....The life you have abominably entombed" (Pg 154) III. Does Creon's attitude toward women enter his argument? Creon has a very negative attitude toward women and it enters his argument. "We'll have no woman's law here, while I live." (Pg. 140) "Ismene:...Kill your own son's bride? Creon: Oh, there are other fields for him to plough." (Pg 141) "...I hold to the law, And will never betray it - least of all for a woman. Better beaten, if need be, by a man, Than let a woman get the better of us." (Pg 144) "Despicable coward! No more will than a woman!" (Pg 146)