Creon's Demise

Roberto Sande Carmona
10 IB English Hour 5
Ms.Peifer

The struggle of morality has always sparked human interest. The infrastructure of Antigone is made up of a particularly eristic moral debate, that of weather to side with state or kin; it is what fuels the work and what raises the question of Antigone's chastity.
There is a triad of points which ascertain her innocence. First, she only set out to do what was dictated correct by the gods, and their omnipotent authority. Second, the mandate that was set down was done so by an arrogant king, with whom the people were dubious of he, his decree, and the reasoning behind it. In defying the law she remained loyal to something more important than to a bias king- her family. Lastly, she accepted the consequences of what she set out to achieve even before she began her venture. She saw it not as something to waste energy on escaping, but as something that she would have to endue to fulfill what she and various others believed; albeit this is not proof of her innocence, it is not generally behavior displayed by the guilty.
As the reader can discover throughout the playwright's work, there are instances were it's stated that the proper burial of Polyneices is will of the gods, that it is what their laws that govern all man dictate, and that is the righteous thing to do. Antigone expresses her thoughts directly stating to her sister Ismene, "..if thou wilt, be guilty of dishonouring laws which the gods have established in honour"(Sophocles par.17). This expresses to the audience that this is the absolute law of the gods; which to the Greek religion is more important than any law any mortal could establish.
Later we even see Choragus, who resides as an adviser to Creon in the story, masquerading his suggestion in the form of a question, inquiring, "O king, my thoughts have long been whispering, can this deed, perchance, be e'en the work of gods?"(par.61)
The Leader tells that he has thought this for a period of time, not simply at that moment, revealing to the reader his, and possibly the people's, true feelings, hidden in a cloak of fear, cast by Creon; this leads to the second point.
Could it be that the Choragus's words represent the people and their reactions to this? In the story there are a couple clues such as this one that show how the majority of the populous is against Creon in this stand even if they do not say so outright. An exemplar other than the one stated previously is a small message, but it carries a monumental meaning; the Guard states in reference to Creon, "Tis sad, truly, that he who judges should misjudge" (par. 73).
It is strange that a guard whom up to this point seemed petrified about the idea of speaking to Creon and delivering bad news would insult him so, but this was no blight act by the writer. It was put in place to again assert the fact that Creon's thought went against the people and that it was the correct thing for Antigone to remain loyal to her brother and to the gods.
Antigone's purity is expressed in her posture and acceptance throughout the story. She does not take all this in panic, she thinks of the deeds presented as something that must be completed. She is fully aware of what will happen and comes to terms with it, some may even say welcome it. This citation compacts this and her thoughts of Creon;

Not through dread of any human pride could I answer to the gods for breaking these. Die I must,-I knew that well (how should I not?)-even without thy edicts. But if I am to die before my time, I count that a gain: for when any one lives, as I do, compassed about with evils, can such an one find aught but gain in death? So for me[Antigone] to meet this doom is trifling grief; but if I had suffered my mother's son to lie in death an unburied corpse, that would have grieved me; for this, I am not grieved. And if my present deeds are foolish in thy sight, it may be that a foolish judge arraigns my folly.(par. 104)

She states how she would rather "die in honor than live in shame." This is the very definition of virtue. It clearly represents her righteousness and incorruptibility. It is her acceptance speech for the ill-assigned punishment, without any attempt to evade, which can be agreed is not generally guilty behavior.

This shows the irrefutable innocence of Antigone. She was the only that stood for the man who could not do so for himself, her brother when he was in dire need.In her rebellious acts to the king, she remained loyal to the gods' maxims, remained loyal to her kin, and gave hope to the people that they could confront their ruler when they saw it fitting.

Sande 2

Works Cited

Sophocles. “Antigone.” The Internet Classics Archive. Trans. R. C. Jebb. 04 Oct. 2000.
Classics.mit.edu. 21 Nov. 2008
.