The Power of Divine law vs Man-Made Law In the introduction of The Burial At Thebes, Antigone and sister, Ismene, were “hit hard”(5) with news about their two brothers’ deaths, Eteicles (who fought for his polis) and Polyneices (who was a traitor to the family and the polis) killed each other in battle. A new law was then put in order by the newly crowned King Ceron, “Hear this about Polyneices, He is forbidden any ceremonial whatsoever. No keening, no interment, no observance of any of the rites. Hereby he is adjudged a carcass for the dogs and birds to feed on. And nobody, let it be understood, Nobody is to treat him otherwise than as the obscenity he was and is” (17) . If found that this law be broken by anyone, they shall be put to…show more content… In this situation, Antigone doesn’t let Creon and his law scare her, nor the thought of death. “Sooner or later I’ll die anyhow and sooner may be better in my case: This death penalty is almost a relief” (30). She doesn’t embellish the idea of her brother being a traitor to the family and the kingdom; to her, family is family. Antigone feels obligated, as a woman and sister, to prepare her brother the proper final resting place. Antigone accepts the thought of death and expresses her willingness to die sooner, if that means to see her brother buried, rather than live longer and know Polyneices lies above ground. “If I had to live and suffer in the knowledge that Polyneices was lying above ground insulted and defiled, that would be worse than having to suffer any doom of yours” (30). She understands the time spent in life does not compare to the time that will be spent in the afterlife. This demonstrates Antigone’s strength, loyalty, and determination she has in herself . Unlike Ismene, Antigone doesn’t let the men in the world scare or belittle-her. Antigone believes what King Creon is doing is wrong and she won’t stand by it. “This man’s words are as cold as death itself” (55). This is where the issue of who is “right” and who is “wrong” come into play. Obviously Antigone believes she is right by following the unwritten law of what the gods would want. Creon on the other hand, dismisses the idea and is convinced he is right. He feels he has to prove his authority is the highest to the people of the land and that he will not be mocked by a woman. “Go then and love your fill in the underworld. No woman will dictate the law to me” (34). Once Creon appointed Antigone to death for violating the law, he also brings in Ismene, convinced she had a hand in this as well. “You bloodsucker. You two-faced parasite. The pair of you at me like a pair of leeches! Two vipers spitting venom at the throne. Speak, you,
