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ENC1102
According to the play Antigone, how does language make the law more authoritative than the
conscience?
The play Antigone addresses the issues of the legal theory and the law in general that are important
for the contemporary society jointly with the fact that the humans treated the rule of the law in the different
manner through the different stages of the evolution. In order to respond to the attitude of the characters in
the play to the rule of law and other legal principles, the description of the theme and the characters should
be provided. Antigone is reflected in the story as the orphaned daughter of Jocasta and Oedipus. Because she
has no other relatives, her uncle Creon in the position of the King was the only person she can turn to.
Besides, the relationship of Antigone with her uncle was not simple due to the fact that the girl preferred to
ignore Creon’s plans and ruling on the fact that Antigone’s brother is not to have a burial. From one point of
view, the conflict raised in the paper seems to be dramatically simple and clear.
From one perspective, two opposing groups treat the rule of the law in a different manner. In fact,
Antigone should be regarded as the aristos that have the features of the old families loyal to the customs.
These people do not believe in the power of the law because they consider the customs and family relations
themselves may resolve any problems and issues. In contrast, Creon pertains to demos as the other social
group that underlines the importance of the legal principles in the community. This category of people
believes that in case there is any existing legal act, it should uphold respect by every individual in the
community. The same attitude is seen in the behavior of Creon to the burning of the brother. He introduced
the decree requesting everyone to follow it irrespective of the existing moral principles and views. Through
the entire play, the audience may observe in what manner Antigone and Creon accept human laws and the
Gods’ laws. Despite the generally accepted practice that any individual after the death should be buried,
Creon ignored this fact by stipulating the existence of the personal decree prohibiting it based on his view. In
general, the play raises such important questions as to whether any particular balance can be provided
between the interests of the state and the rights of the individual living in that state. Besides, the attitude of
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people to the actions of Creon is evident in 213-214 of Dorothy Willners’ Oedipus Complex review, where
the people say, “You, being sovereign, make what laws you will. Both for the dead and those of us who live”
(Willner).
In this regard, the author of the play throughout the entire text presents the evidence that every
person and character may decide as to what law follows. To Antigone, the decision to respect the laws of the
Gods and the respective moral rules is the proper kind of behavior, while the disobedience of the decree of
the King is not the right decision because Antigone lives in the particular community that contains a
government ran by appropriate rules. The power of every society lies in the fact that the activity of the
people within this society should correspond to the particular norms and rules. However, it is quite
interesting to observe the attitude of Antigone and Creon to the fact that they are acting in the improper
manner with regard to the existing laws. It is clear that Antigone is not concerned with the fact that she
violates the decree of the King while Creon expresses no fear that his disobedience to the laws of the Gods
