Challenges to Male Authority in Sophocles’ play, Antigone :: Antigone Essays

Challenges to Male Authority in Sophocles play, AntigoneIn the play Antigone by Sophocles, Creon and Antigone have distinct conflicting set.Antigone first demonstrates womens liberationist logic when she chooses to challenge a powerful maleestablishment. This establishment is personified by her uncle Creon, who is newly crownedas the King of Thebes. Creon poses to be a major confidence figure in a patriarchalsociety. Creons regard for the laws of the city causes him to abandon all other beliefs.He feels that all should obey the laws set forth by him, even if other beliefs, moral orreligious, state otherwise. Antigone, on the other hand, holds the beliefs of the gods inhigh reverence. She feels that the laws of the gods should be obeyed above all others,especially when in watch to family. The bold, tradition-bra tabby character of Antigoneclearly clashed with the overpowering patriarchal dominance of Creon. This collisionbetween characters gives rise to the conflict between the sex es in Sophocles Antigone.The denial of burial to Polynices strikes directly at her family loyalty. This enormoussense of loyalty leads to her simultaneous violation and observance to the duty of womenof the time. It is precisely this loyalty that makes her an active rather than a staticfigure. Antigone herself represents the highest ideals of human spirit -- courage and respect forthe gods. She believed that the law of the gods, which dictates that a body be givenproper burial rights, was more important than the law of the King. Throughout the play,Antigone amazingly retains the handed-down role of women, while at the same time boldlychallenges this depiction. The challenge occurs as both a defiance of Creons laws inAntigones burying Polynices and as a direct verbal assault on Creon himself. Creonbecomes angry that a woman questions his sovereignty and condemns her to death eventhough she was the daughter of his sister, Jocasta. Creon believes that if he does not come out through on his word the people of Thebes will not respect his authority as king.Thus Creons patriotic values clash with Antigones ethical values to make conflictingroles. Creon, being a new king, wants to prove his abilities as a firm and strong administrator.Creon wants to be respected and feared as a king because this will prove him to be theultimate authorative figure in Thebes. He stands for obedience to the State. Surely it ishis voice the townspeople should obey. Creon abuses his power to force others to accepthis shoot down of view.