In Sophocles' play Antigone, a tragic thing happens where Antigone and Creon are torn between the law and family. The law clearly states that “Polyneices returned from exile with the intention of burning and destroying his homeland and the gods of his homeland, to drink the blood of his relatives, to enslave them. He will have no grave, no burial, no mourning by anyone; it is forbidden." The King of the time is Creon and he has forbidden the burial of the fallen warrior, even if it is family, it doesn't matter if it is family or if the law is immoral it is still the law and Antigone is wrong for the acts she committed . he did so, regardless of the circumstances. But the law is idiotic and appears to have been created in the heat of the moment. In a way you can defend both sides, Antigone was right to not obey the law and put family first or the law is so powerful that nothing else should matter. The role of fate and free will plays a huge role in all of the works written by Sophocles, especially in Antigone in particular, and it really shows. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Through the portrayals of The Theban you learned more about the family. Polyneices was exiled from the kingdom and virtually shunned by his family. He becomes the leader of his army as he fights in a war for power and what's even crazier is that he's fighting against his younger brother. During all this Antigone begs Polyneices to take his army back to Argos and put an end to this fighting, “order your army to return to Argos; now, before it is too late to save you and our city from destruction." and Polynices defends himself and proves his thesis. «Do I have to endure the indignity of exile and the derision of his younger brother?». Polynices has developed a lot respect for himself and wants to prove to himself that he can be great and that he doesn't deserve what happened to him. But it's so obvious that he cares so much for his sisters and wants them to be safe. “May the gods be good with you. God knows you deserved it." For someone looked down upon so badly, he seems like a good guy who would do whatever he could to protect his family. The sad part is that his family doesn't seem to even want to give him a chance to regain his family's trust, with the exception of Antigone. He demonstrates this when he talks to his sister Ismene about the burial of Polyneices. “He's not my brother, and yours, whether you like it or not? I will never, ever abandon him." At the time the plays were written, women's rights weren't all that important. It seemed their fate was decided for them. One great thing about Sophocles' plays is that you don't see as much hatred towards women, it's more about family and mutual respect. In the play Antigone, you see Antigone and Creon share a moment that shows that Antigone is free to express her opinion; “Why delay then? There's nothing you can say that I would want to hear." This occurred at the moment when Creon's guards captured Antigone while she was trying to perform a proper burial on her brother Polyneices. The guards capture her and take her to Creon where he tells her that death is the order for those who defy the king's laws. But it is very interesting to see that Creon lets her speak. He is not defending himself but is just trying to explain how it is in his faith to carry out the burial of his brother Polyneices. King Creon lets her speak, he listens to her because it is obvious that he lets the family play a very small role in his decision to let her speak so aggressively towards him. Creon shows that his fate has already been decided andnothing can change his mind, even if many try. King Creon decided his fate by using the law as a defense mechanism. He would make sure everyone in the country respects him and does what he says. He made it clear that no one couldcarry out the burial of Polyneices. “It must be left unburied, left to be eaten by dogs and vultures.” (Sophocles; The Theban Plays, Antigone, page 131.) He decided his fate that no one would defile him. It came back to bite him in the butt when his son killed himself after learning of Antigone's death. «Haemon is dead, killed by his own people.» After hearing that bad news, his wife also ends up taking her own life. “Your wife, the mother of the one who died, has died.” Creon couldn't accept the fact that he was wrong. He decided his fate and that ended up hurting him more than anything. If only he had let his free will get the better of him, he could have seen the truth of everything. He let his reign of power get the best of him. Family is the most powerful thing in the world and Sophocles made that clear in writing that play. Antigone is a woman who lives in a time where women are seen as property and one of the greatest things Sophocles did is not let the inequality between men and women affect the play. Antigone's destiny was to bury her brother honorably, she promised and she would make sure this happened. She doesn't care that Creon forbade it. Her fate is decided and she explains it by talking to her sister Ismene, telling her: "She has no right to keep me away from my parents." (Sophocles; The Theban Comedies, Antigone, page 128). A woman who behaved that way around the time Sophocles wrote this would be in serious trouble. Antigone sees herself as having the free will to speak as she pleases. She responds to King Creon after being captured and it's something very impressive that wouldn't have been done by someone during that time. “Even so, we have a duty to the dead.” Antigone took it upon herself to give her brother a proper burial. She lived in a mind where she had free will and didn't care what anyone had to say about it. It's really impressive that someone from that era like Sophocles was able to correct something that was so ahead of its time. Women were able to think for themselves and have their own destiny and that is amazing to read. The ending was so tragic but spectacular at the same time. After Creon sees all the people he loves die before him. He sees that his destiny has been destroyed. Creon noted that free will was once attainable for him, but not anymore, his family is gone and the people who meant the most to him are gone. The chorus upholds the law with Creon and you can tell he is annoyed by it and knows he was wrong. “My last finest hour, my only happiness will come soon. Show me another day. Far away". He wanted to die, all his happiness was gone. He let power control his destiny, you can say he saw his free will as the way he handled everyone and the laws he made. Making mistakes is something he can bring a man to his knees. Sophocles showed Creon as a weak leader who didn't care about anyone else and used his power to control his own destiny. Antigone is the kind of character that many people wish they could be the free will she has. She spoke for herself and proved that equality and immoral laws cannot change the way you feel. Sophocles writing this during the time he wrote is simply amazing is just an example. Get an item now.