By the power of his crown and the authority of his title, a king is the rightful law bringer. But who put that king into power? Kreon’s role is largely the result of Fate. The prophecy about Oedipus has come true and he is in exile, and then the double murder of the next two heirs occurs (205-206), and only Kreon is the next male left in line. These are no coincidences.
Kreon is a king because of his circumstances, and these are circumstances that can change at any day or at any minute. Antigone is a play about how a few choices can cause many deaths and changes very rapidly. Therefore, when we look at the clashing laws of kings verses gods, we also see mortal laws verses immortal ones; laws that are susceptible to change verses laws that are most likely not.
Kreon’s law to not bury Polyneikes immediately clashes with the will of the gods. While their presence is not as direct and obvious as we saw in The Odyssey, there are signs that they are displeased. Antigone revolts (85-94), and the Thebans secretly do not disagree with her: “No person ever, they’re saying, less deserved to die (778-779). Not only does one person see Kreon’s law as disobedient to the gods, but a large majority of the people also see something wrong. They are beginning to side with Antigone, and thus with the gods.
But most tellingly that Kreon is not acting correctly is the gods’s refusal to accept the Thebans’ prayers or sacrifices (1126-1130). Tiresias, the prophet, reveals their anger. And the result of Kreon’s murder of Antigone is the death of Haimon (1176-1178) and Eurydike; the gods take two lives for his one.
While Kreon has the power to kill, he does not have the ability to predict consequences. Those are left to Fate and the gods, and the results of Kreon’s actions are more horrible than the action itself. While there is a rightful law of man, we see that is superseded by the divine law of the gods and must always pay respect to it. In some ways, Antigone herself was prideful and boasting, but the burial of her brother acted in accordance with the gods. Though king, Kreon’s pride was seen as disobedient to the gods. In the end, there can be many laws: as a king for the county, or as a human declaring an action for themselves, but the one above all that predicts the outcome to everything is the law of the gods.
Hi, JoMaris!
I completely agree with you that the law of the gods triumphs mortal law, which is evident in Kreon’s ultimate punishment. I found it interesting how you called Antigone “prideful and boasting” about the burial of her brother. In some ways, I saw it as Antigone trying to protect her sister from death. She purposefully reveals herself and tells her sister to tell everyone that she’s planning to bury their brother. I saw this as Antigone trying to make it appear as if Ismene had nothing to do with her, so her sister wouldn’t be punished. However, it can definitely also be seen as Antigone selfishly trying to protect her own afterlife and displaying excessive hubris.