Differing Views of Authority
...s person’s soul can be rightfully delivered to Hades, would be killed. Due to Antigone’s strong conscience and obedience to the gods, she performed the burial for her brother. This expressed the two greatest differences in beliefs of Authority, these being between Antigone, one of loyalty to the gods and Creon, one in belief that his own power over-rules all. Roche, 02 Antigone was one who had all her heart dedicated to the laws of the gods, and equal fairness between the living and the souls of the dead. Antigone’s true feelings concerning her brother’s burial were first expressed in the discussion with her sister, Ismene, in the debate of burying their brother or not. Her faith boasted “I will suffer nothing as great as death without glory” (Sophocles, Antigone pg 64, line 112). Antigone’s character showed particularly impressive boldness, as she was well aware of the crime she had committed and was not at all reserved in her acts. In fact, she made it clear to the king of her confidence by stating to the king “Why delay” and then continuing with “Give me Glory! What greater glory could I win than to give my own brother decent burial” (Sophocles, Antigone pg 84, lines 58 and 60-62). The conclusion Antigone finished with expressed her view of her punishment and how she redeemed herself from regret, and was able to realize that everything she had done was in reverence of the gods. “I alone, see what I suffer now at the hands of what breed of men – all for reverence, my reverence for the gods!” (Sophocles, Antigone pg 91, lines 107-108) Her only concern was of the gods desires and her brothers equal rights to enter into haydes, and not the punishment that she would be given due to her concern. Creon, on the other hand, possessed completely opposite priorities. The faith that Creon boasted, was particularly expressed in rebuttal to Antigones faithful statement of how after death everyone deserves the same rites. “Never the same for the patriot and the traitor”(Sophocles, Creon pg 85, line 585). His power-driven ego seemed to take control over each situation he faced. When Haemon made a decent point regarding the dishonor Roche, 03 Creon was paying to the gods, Creon, uncontrollably, replied with “You, you soul of corruption, rotten through- woman’s accomplice!” (Sophocles, Creon pg 98, line 836), and later responds with calling his son a woman’s slave. A true characteristic of Creon is pointed out by the Messenger, whilst he is talking to Eudice. He says “Creon shows the world that of all the ills afflicting men the worst is lack of judgment” (Sophocles, Messenger pg 123, line 1372).This explaining clearly of Creons wrong in choices. By the end of this play, Antigone was the truest to her beliefs and put others before herself. She made it clear, from the beginning to the end, what her moral...