Civil Disobedience In Antigone By David Thoreau - 958 Words

When one thinks of civil disobedience, they think of a person that neither follows nor respects the law. However, one does not take into consideration why a certain person is not abiding by the law, and what is influencing their decisions. In the case of Antigone, in Antigone by Sophocles, the reason she does not follow the law is that not only does she view the law as unfair and not just, but the law hurts her more than anyone else. Antigone feels she has a burden to bury her brother Polynices, but he is considered a traitor to Thebes, and to bury him is a violation of the law. Antigone thinks that it is the right of every man to be buried, but the people of Thebes do not view Polynices as a man. Antigone must decide between what she†¦show more content†¦In the case of Antigone herself, she says â€Å"But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy† (Sophocles 192). Both Antigone and Polynices recognize their right to revolt, that Thoreau also r ecognized which is evident is work. Antigone and Thoreau actions are both similar in this context, as they decide to revolt what they think is wrong, but by revolting they committed crimes that are also considered wrong. Although Antigone and Thoreau’s actions are not viewed as appropriate under the law, both people do what they view as right, which leads to the next point of respecting what one thinks is corrects over what the law says is correct. When one makes a significant decision they tend to go with what their gut is telling them to do. One doesn’t take into consideration if their decision is the popular or safer decision, but trust what their gut tells them. Antigone is no different, when she is faced with a difficult decision she goes with what she thinks is right without regard to what repercussions she will face. In his essay, David Thoreau states â€Å"The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right† (Thorea u â€Å"Civil Disobedience†). Not only is it a right, but for Antigone it is an obligation. She says in the play, â€Å"This death of mine is of no importance; but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied,Show MoreRelatedBeing a Good Citizen Essay960 Words   |  4 Pagespolicies? It follows then, what is good citizenship? Henry David Thoreau provides an adequate definition of good citizenship within his essay, Civil Disobedience; Thoreau discusses certain characteristics of a good citizen. Examples of Thoreaus definition exist in both the ancient and contemporary culture. Sophocles describes Antigone as a good citizen by Thoreaus definition. Within the play, Antigone, Sophocles utilizes the character of Antigone to epitomize the proper role of citizens within a societyRead MoreAntigone: Moral Law vs. Political Law814 Words   |  4 PagesANTIGONE 3 January 2013 Moral Law vs. Political Law The theme of Antigone is the struggle between political law and moral law; the difference of following the law because it is the law and following one’s own morals because you feel it is what is right. The characters in Antigone face this struggle when confronted with Creon’s refusal of a burial for Antigone’s brother Polynices. The ancient Greeks believed that without proper burial, entrance into the afterlife was forbidden. It is throughRead MoreLiterature: A Reflection of Society1764 Words   |  8 Pagesthoughts in various ways, which has different effects on different people. Although not all literature promotes social change, many pieces of literature have had a profound impact on their respective societies, including Antigone by Sophocles, â€Å"Civil Disobedience† by Henry David Thoreau, and Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Greek theatre was an extremely important part of life in ancient Athens and held much influence over the people because it was a part of the new political system of democracy. The