One image in Sophocles’ Antigone which is a prominent, driving force of action throughout the story is law. The cause of discourse between Antigone (eventually along with others) and Creon is whether the law of the land or the law of God prevails in importance when it comes to justice and what is right; it is the collision of the iron-willed beliefs of both Antigone and Creon which brings chaos to Thebes. In this society religion is held dearly by its residents, but seemingly not to the pigheaded king, who’s own law holds highest value to him and expects the same standard of his subjects. Often it is not only the law of the land which causes people to make decisions and act, but religiously based morals and codes. Antigone goes against the King’s order to prevent Polyneicês from receiving a proper burial simply because he is a personal enemy of his, and she takes it upon herself to honor her brother and bury him to fulfill a holy ritual all while knowing full well that she could be killed for doing so. She brazenly values her religious faith’s rules more than the legal boundaries of her country. After Antigone has openly defied Creon’s rule without care, and just before a trusted prophet has told him the future of his actions’ consequence, his own son dares him to question his power and wisdom. Haimon tries to reason with him, “Do not believe that you alone can be right. The man who thinks that, The man who maintains that only he has the power To reason correctly, the gift to speak, to soul–– A man like that, when you know him, turns out empty” (565-569). Creon then begins to lose the trust of his people because of his stubbornness, as they respect the resilient actions of Antigone in the name of personal belief and righteousness. Even later, Creon suffers the suicide of his son after the discovery of Antigone’s suicide; the stubbornness of his will, and his unwillingness to take other’s critique and advice has caused him much loss.
“Yet there are other men Who can reason, too; and their opinions might be helpful. You are not in a position to know everything That people say or do, or what they feel” Haimon, (546-549). It is not in a single man’s right or ability to choose what is right for all men.