Essay About Creon Battle And Proper Burial

As I Lay Dying
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In Ancient Greece, new ideals surfaced as answers to lifes
complicated questions. These new beliefs were centered around the
expanding field of science. Man was focused on more than the Gods or
heavenly concerns. A government that was ruled by the people was
suggested as opposed to a monarchy that had existed for many years.
Freedom of religion was encouraged to be exercised in city-states.
These new ideals, though good in intentions, often conflicted with
each other creating complex moral dilemmas.
Such was the case in Antigone a play written by Sophocles during
this era of change. In the play, Antigone and Creon battle a
philosophical war dealing with the controversy of the Greek ideals.
They both based their actions on their beliefs of what is right and
wrong. The conflict arose when the ideals that backed up their actions
clashed with each other, making it contradiction between morals.
Antigones side of the conflict held a much more heavenly
approach, as opposed to the mundane road that Creon chose to follow.
Antigone feels that Creon is disregarding the laws of heaven through
his edict. After she is captured and brought to Creon, she tells him
“I do not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten
unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man.” Antigones
staunch opinion is one that supports the Gods and the laws of heaven.
Her reasoning is set by her belief that if someone is not given a
proper burial, that person would not be accepted into heaven. Antigone
was a very religious person, and acceptance of her brother by the Gods
was very important to her. She felt that “It is against you and me
he has made this order. Yes, against me.” Creons order was personal
to Antigone. His edict invaded her family life as well as the Gods.
An important ideal in Ancient Greece was the belief that the
government was to have no control in matters concerning religious
beliefs. In Antigones eyes, Creon betrayed that ideal by not allowing
her to properly bury her brother, Polynices. She believed that the
burial was a religious ceremony, and Creon did not have the power to
deny Polynices that right. Antigones strong beliefs eventually led
her to her death by the hand of Creon. Never, though, did she stop
defending what she thought was right. As Creon ordered her to her
death, Antigone exclaimed, “I go, his prisoner, because I honoured
those things in which honour truly belongs.” She is directly
humiliating Creon by calling his opinions and decisions weak and
unjust. She also emphasizes “his prisoner,” which tells us that
Creons decision to capture Antigone was his own, and was not backed
up by the majority of the people. She feels that Creon is abusing his
power as king and dealing with her task to a personal level.
Creons actions are guided by the ideal that states “Man is the
measure of all things.” The chorus emphasizes this point during the
play by stating that “There is nothing beyond (mans) power.” Creon
believes that the good of man comes before the gods. Setting the
example using Polynices body left unburied is a symbol of Creons
belief. “No man who is his countrys enemy shall call