Good thesis In The Letter from Birmingham Jail, punctuate all titles Dr. King expressed use present tense verbs many of his own opinions of just and unjust laws. Dr. King stated “There are just laws, and there are unjust laws” (King 3). Some laws are set forth to protect one’s self as well as others. Other laws are biased and unfair. Dr. King wrote “we know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” (King 2).
Divine/Natural Law vs. Human Law If it hadn’t been for Creon’s law that no one could or should bury Polyneices, Antigone’s brother, there would have been no story for Antigone. This provided the theme of the contest between divine law and human law. Natural law states that there are standards for right and wrong that are more fundamental and universal than the laws of any particular society, or human law. Creon showed that he had no concern for divine law when he proved his inhumanity by declaring that Polyneices would receive no burial because he was a “traitor” of Thebes. Antigone, on the other hand, has what Creon lacks.
Justice, that dwells with the gods below, knows no such law.” - pg. 138 Each aspect is represented by two different characters; Antigone and Creon. Creon represents the aspect of human authority by decreeing that Polynices should not be buried due to opposing him in the conflict over Thebes, while Antigone represents the aspect of divine authority by claiming that Polynices should be buried, as dictated by the gods because “we have only a while to please the living, but all eternity to love the dead.” (Antigone------>Ismene P128) As the play goes on, characters such as Haemon and Teiresias further attempt to convince Creon that he should release Antigone and bury Polynices. Sophocles’ views on the matter are shown through the chorus, ‘for what presumption of man can match thy power, O Zeus... This law is immutable, for mortal greatly to live is greatly to suffer,’ and Creon’s actions after he is persuaded to relent( he goes to bury Polynices before he rescues Antigone).
"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and beg Thy blessings upon us, our teachers, and our country." In an opinion delivered by Justice Hugo Black, the Court ruled that government-written prayers were not to be recited in public schools and were an unconstitutional violation of the Establishment Clause. This was decided in a vote of 6-1. THIRD- THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COURT’S DECSION ON US SOCIETY: The decision prevents public school teachers from leading their students in any religious activity. It has impacted the U.S. today because schools can't force students to participate in any religious activities.
I didn’t suppose that your decree had strength enough…to violate the lawful traditions" (550). Despite the dire consequences for disobedience, Antigone remains true to her conviction that the civil laws created by Creon have no bearing on one's actions and are inferior compared to divine law. In contrast, Creon believes civil law is the supreme law of the land and adherence to divine law isn't essential for governing a city. His arrogance and sense of superiority are exposed when he says "Will the nation tell me what orders I can give?" (883) and that “Nations belong to the men with power.
For the Thebans, the newly enforced laws of Creon were expected to be abided by. Spiritually and intelligently speaking, Antigone re-evaluates Creon as she object’s to obey the ungodly and low-living laws. As an illustration, she addresses Creon by saying: “I did not think/anything which you proclaimed strong enough/to let a mortal override the gods/and their unwritten and unchanging laws” (lines 510-513). In regards to this evidence, Antigone suggests that the ignorant laws of Creon will never be as powerful as the precious promises of the heavenly gods. She continues to similarly say; the
Antigone claims that Creon’s power to make laws should only apply to those of the living, his power should cease with regards to those of the dead. Antigone’s believes that one’s life in the underworld should be joyous because it is eternal, and if her brother Polynices does not receive a burial then he will doomed in the afterlife to endless unhappiness. Creon does not dispute Antigone’s right to her own personal interpretation of Theban religion, however religion’s subjectivity prevents it from ever having any ruling power over people; each individual has a different interpretation of what religion means to them. State laws, on the other hand, are completely objective and are simple to understand and follow. Laws bring clarity to a dysfunctional world; they are the bedrock of the city.
Sophocles’(496-406) second most famous play Antigone contains many contrasts. According to G. M. Kirkwood, “A contrast between Antigone and Creon lies at the heart of the drama can be taken for granted” (118). In the story, Antigone wants to bury her brother, who fought bravely and died on the battlefield, but to do so would be to break the law since her brother fought on the side of Argos, the enemy of Thebes. Creon, her uncle, who has become king, represents the law. Although she cares for and respects her brother, her conscience will not let her disrespect her brother.
Creon views the gods differently. “Be sure, I would have done this had not I wished first of all to learn from the God the course of action I should follow.” (Sophocles, line 136-138). Creon has faith in the gods and refers to them before making any drastic decision, like when Oedipus begged to be killed when realizing about his major fault. He values their opinions and looks to them for solace. Throughout the play, Oedipus is shown to overreact when faced with opposition or disaster.
He issues a decree to give funeral honors to Eteocles, but leaves Polynices out to be eaten by dogs. However, as part of his family, it is Antigone’s right and obligation to bury her brother, and she does so. Under Creon’s edict, this incurs the death penalty for the headstrong young woman. He imprisons her alive in a tomb, not knowing that his son Haemon, who is betrothed to her. The prophet Teiresias comes to Creon and after an initial resistance, Creon repents and decides to go and free Antigone.