1) What law? Whose law?
In Antigone, law is ultimately determined by the gods. At first glance, it might appear that law is determined by Kreon, the king, but after examining the details of the play, it is clear that law is determined by the gods. In the beginning of the play, he decrees a new law making it a crime to bury or mourn Polyneikes, justifying it by saying that he “will never / tolerate giving a bad man more respect / than a good one” (753). The leader supports his decision by saying that Kreon has “all the authority [he] need[s] / to discipline the living and the dead” (753). However, this new law he enacts is based solely on his moral values alone, not the Theban moral values as a collective, meaning Kreon has no authority to create laws based on his judgment, even if he has support from the leader of the chorus. In lines 30-31, Antigone points out how Eteokles was buried according to law and custom, illustrating how there are already preexisting laws the Thebans abode by regarding burial rituals. However, these laws are not mere laws created by mortals, in line 94, Antigone says that these laws are ones that the gods expect the Thebans to honor. This further justifies that laws in Thebes are determined by the gods. Also, because Kreon chose to defy the gods’ laws for his own selfish views, he had to pay the price with the death of his family: his niece: Antigone, his son: Haimon, and his wife: Eurydike. This shows that his laws are nothing compared to the laws of the gods.
Hi Fean!
I definitely agree that the gods have an overarching say in what goes on: we can see Kreon’s punishment for not obeying them. I think it’s interesting that you say Kreon was acting on his own moral values, rather than those of the collective, because, at times, it seemed that Antigone was also acting selfishly, and obeying the gods became a front when really it was about her own desires. But since those desires did not clash with the will of the gods, like Kreon’s did, she was allowed to do what she wanted. I think you noticing and referencing those preexisting laws about burials is a strong piece of evidence for the stronger and eternal laws of the gods.
Like Jomaris, I also liked your take on Kreon’s selfishness. But are Kreon’s laws nothing? Or is it because of the extenuating circumstances in this particular situation Kreon has been defeated? He was almost about to defeat the gods if not Haimon hadn’t got emotional and had obeyed his father- so, upon reflection, was it love that made Kreon’s law nothing or the gods?