Creon vs. Antigone

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Creon vs. Antigone

In Antigone, Creon and Antigone dispute over whether or not Creon has the authority to issue the degree that prevents Polynices from having a proper burial. Antigone feels her individual opinion on religious duties to her family supersedes that of her state obligations towards Thebes. However, Creon believes that Antigone’s personal religious beliefs should not surpass that of state law which purpose is to benefit that of the majority and prevent widespread confusion amongst countrymen of their legal responsibilities. When an individual belief conflicts with state duties, state duties should trump that of individual beliefs.
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. Without the city there would be no religion, therefore Creon is ultimately protecting Theban religion by enforcing laws that bring order and protect the city and its people, who in turn have the ability to practice religion in the safety of a stable society.
Antigone claims to be a loyalist to Thebes, yet she wishes to bury Polynices whose actions against Thebes labeled him a traitor. Creon is also a loyalist, and as leader of Thebes has
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