A major theme of written law vs. moral law is expressed in the play “Antigone” by Sophocles. Written laws are those created for the people to follow and punishments are given for those who decide to break a written law. Moral law is associated with your own beliefs and what you consider to be correct. Moral laws vary because everyone has their own set of beliefs. The only distinction between written and moral law is if you are willing to break a written law because it goes against your morals and what you believe is right or not. Antigone was one who was willing to break a written law because of her extreme belief in her morals. Ismene on the other hand is not willing to disobey a written law although she believes it is not correct and disagrees with it. Ismene is one of many in the city just obeying what is being told. Antigone branches out and acts as her own leader and follows through with what she believes is right despite consequences.
Antigone has a strong belief in her moral laws and is willing to break a written law, not paying any attention to the punishment. Antigone disobeys the written law that Creon has created in which nobody shall touch Polyneices or try to give him a burial. The consequence was death, but Antigone had the strong belief that everyone deserves a proper burial and wanted to give this respect to Polyneices and the gods. “But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me. It is the dead Not the living, who make the longest demands: We die for ever...” (Antigone, 55-61). Being loyal to her family and respecting the dead is more important to Antigone than anything that Creon says. She gives Polyneices a burial and does what she believes is right. Antigone stands as her own leader and individual, not allowing a written law to have her sit back and watch something she disagrees with.
Ismene is very different than her sister Antigone. They are actually very opposite. Antigone is loyal, determined, independent, and very strong-willed. She will do whatever she can to be loyal to her brother Polyneices, who deserves a proper burial. Antigone is not poised by the proclamation that Creon has made. Her morals and values are of more importance, and she will follow and do what she truly is the right thing to do. Meanwhile Ismene on the other hand is fearful, uncertain, and cowardly. “We cannot fight with men, Antigone! The law is strong, we must give in to the law. In this thing, and in worse. I beg the Dead. To forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield 50 To those in authority. And I think it is dangerous business. To be always meddling.” (Ismene, 47-52). Ismene strongly believes in obeying the law although she disagrees with it. She is scared of the punishment. She is weak because of her thought that she is helpless in the situation. She follows the written law because she is too afraid to go against Creon. While she does not want to go against the law King Creon has put into effect, she eventually finds the will in her to step forward and show loyalty to her brother. She didn’t help her sister in the action of giving a proper burial, but once Antigone is convicted, Ismene also tells Creon she is guilty and is now willing to face death in honor of her brother. It took time for Ismene to realize the importance of her morals, unlike Antigone, who from the beginning followed what she believed.
The people of Thebes live in fear under King Creon’s rule. The citizens of Thebes are like Ismene, afraid to speak up and act out against him and face the punishment that may be inflicted. There are two different types of rulers, one that is loved by the people, and one that is feared. Creon believes it is better to be feared. Creon would rather his citizens fear him because those that are in fear will obey and not go against your laws due to not wanting to face the consequence. Creon has a very fixed way of rulingof ruling his city. Once he makes his statement and creates a law, the people must follow it.“I’ll have no dealings with law-breakers, critics of the government: Whoever is chosen to govern should be obeyed––Must be obeyed,in all things, great and small…” (Creon 525-528). Creon rules basically as a dictator and does not listen to his own citizens. Once his mind is set, there is no changing that. Everything he does must be obeyed, although many may believe that he is wrong. The people are living in fear and obey his laws due to not wanting to face the consequences. Creon’s own ruling and written law were tested by Antigone’s strong will and decision to disobey him.
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