Blog 1

In the play Antigone by Sophocles two opposing themes are written law vs. moral law. Written laws are supposed to be a set of rules that the citizens of that city/ nation must abide by. On the other hand moral laws is ones believes in his/ hers own heart on what they think is the right thing to do. In the play, Creon expresses the importance of his laws to not touch the body of Polyneices and to leave him dead in the middle of the city “You shall leave him without burial; you shall watch him chewed up by birds and dogs and violated”(Creon 224-225). Here he shows his power even though it is unmoral to most to leave a body without burial. Antigone on the other hand shows a great deal of self-moral law; she disobeys Creon’s law and continues to bury her brother. This does not prove the fact that she is disobedient but in fact shows her loyalty to her family and her morals. When caught by the sentry Antigone does not shy away from her actions when confronted, she shows a great deal of pride in them “I knew it; of course I did. For it was public”(Antigone 492). She knew of the consequences yet her morals couldn’t let her leave her brother unburied. Many people in life grow up following a set of rules that are obeyed; others follow their own rules based off their morals. In the play Antigone is a firm believer in her moral laws and what she thinks is right, but Creon is the opposite he believe everyone should obey his written law and respect his leadership.