Divine Law And Ismene By SophoclesAntigone - 827 Words

Daniel Lavitman Mrs. Sicotte English II 21 November 2017 Antigone Test Sophocles’ Antigone sheds light on some questions some of these include, as question one says, human laws versus divine laws, and loyalty to the family versus loyalty to the state. Sophocles writes about how one should always follow divine laws. He does this through the character of Antigone, one of Oedipus’ children. Antigone says that she must act as per the religious law, the law of higher God. Ismene, her sister and another child of Oedipus declares that she cannot go against the law of the citizens. Antigone, knowing full well the consequences of defying Creon, acts on her principles as she realizes that law of God demands the burial of a dead body, her†¦show more content†¦By corruption few men thrive, and many come to mischief† (Sophocles 12). The sentinel responds to this with the accusation that Creon is too blinded to realize that it was not him, â€Å"Plague on it! ‘Tis hard, a man should be suspicious, And with a false suspicion!† (Sophocles 13). However, in the play he does make some good decisions, he is seen as an effective leader where he believes in order and laws and punishment for breaking those laws. He mostly believes in his laws having more authority than the God’s laws and talks about how anarchy is the true downforce of a nation. In question six it is asked if Antigone or Creon is the tragic hero. In the play of Antigone, Creon is the tragic hero. Sophocles at first portrays Creon as a just leader. He has good, rational reasons for his laws and punishments. By the end of the play Creon’s hubris, has taken over him, which leads to his demise. He does not realize how bad his hubris has interfered with his dealing of problems until Teiresias’s prophecy, â€Å"Therefore the Gods accept not of us now Solemn peace-offering or burnt sacrifice, Nor bird trills out a happy-boding note, Gorged with the fatness of a slain man’s blood† (Sophocles 38). By then it is too late. This is the path of a tragic character. Creon’s pride and hubris got the better of himself when he thought himself higher than the Gods. Creon finally realizes that things will not turn out