Historical Female Leaders Exhibiting Civil Disobedience

Antigone is an honorable character in this story of love and rebellion. The only thing that she does is disobey an order that is unjust and bury the remains of her

Antigone’s argument with her sister about her plans to defy the king is the scene that opens the play. From the start, she appears certain that burying Polynices will restore justice when she says, “even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory (Sophocles 86).” She was so sure of the immorality of Creon’s law that she was willing to go to any means necessary to keep her brother from becoming a cautionary tale. In the philosophical statement made by Martin Luther King Jr., he says that, “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.” Antigone stood alone in defending her brother's honor, and did not waver from her beliefs at any point. She went to great lengths in order to convey her belief that Creon had been unfair in the conviction of Polynices. In doing so, she attempted to awaken the consciences of the other Thebans and prove to them that even though Creon was their leader, they had the ability to voice their concerns about

If Antigone didn’t do the things she had done, Creon would have ruled over the city with fear, by using his political jurisdiction to keep order. Creon’s pride was too big for his own good, and that is what brought him down. Even though Antigone’s pride was big Creon’s was worse since he always viewed himself as the correct one or more important than others.”We keep the laws then, and the lawmakers, And no woman shall seduce us. If we must lose, Let’s lose to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we?” (Sophocles,21). In this quote Creon states that women aren’t better than men and men are the strongest, so only lose to another man. This is why Antigone was the one who made

In Sophocles, Antigone, translated by Ruby Blondell, the main character, Antigone, rebelled against the unethical treatment of her brothers, while Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also rebelled against the unethical treatment of African Americans in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. Both Antigone and King Jr. sacrificed their lives to highlight the unethical and unjust treatment in their societies. However, King Jr. uses civil disobedience to achieve his goals to end inequality for African Americans in the United States and is assassinated, while Antigone uses her religion as motivation to bury her brothers and ultimately commit suicide as she so strongly disapproves the actions which the King of Thebes, Kreon. King Jr.’s tactics were more effective than Antigone’s as King Jr. was able to pave the way for equality for African Americans in the United States, while Antigone’s tactics only left Creon to feel guilty and led to no change in her society.

Antigone, however, decides she would rather please the gods than man and buries her brother against King Creon’s orders. She is fully aware of the consequences should she get caught, yet she openly disobeys, even against her sister’s warnings. She gives Creon no additional respect either as a male in a patriarchal society or as a king and ultimate authority figure. In fact, she calls him a fool! Antigone boldly states to Creon himself, “If my present actions strike you as foolish, let’s just say I’ve been accused of folly by a fool,” (Sophocles p.657). The strong will and defiance she exhibits are very characteristic of modern feminism.

Imagine knowing that both your brothers have lost their lives due to foolish decisions. The man who comes to power in place of them decides that only one of them is worthy of a proper burial. One of them is glorified and the other is left to be eaten by animals as he is thought to be a traitor. Being one of the last in your line you decide to take it upon yourself to respect the laws of the gods and honor your brother. In Antigone, a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles , Antigone faces the consequences of defying mans law in order to follow the laws of the gods.

In a lifetime, full of darkness for women, Susan Brownell Anthony decided to rise and take a stand for women 's rights. She knew women deserved the same respect as men received and that women needed to be treated with equality and have the same rights and privileges as men. It took a brave soul by the name of Susan B. Anthony to stand up for ladies everywhere. Susan was an abolitionist, educational reformer, labor activist, and an organizer for woman 's suffrage. She was a hero to most by creating an inspiration to them of all in every aspect of their lives and all that she did. Susan B Anthony played a major role in history during her life, participating in reform movements, and becoming a hero to all women by trying to make a change in

Antigone’s civil disobedience was in honor of her brother. She could not allow her brother, Polyneices, to be left to the dogs and the birds. In those times, the responsibility of taking care of the dead belonged to the families. She didn’t fear the consequences of defying the law of King Creon. She believed in obeying the law of the gods’ more than the law of man, especially in this situation because it dealt with her family. “Nor did I think your proclamations had such strength that, mortal as you are, you could outrun the laws that are the gods’, unwritten and unshakable” (Antigone, Sophocles 38). She felt like she was doing the

Creon is no longer focused on justice and fairness, but pride and sexism. He is solely motivated by the fear of appearing inferior to women, “while I am alive, no woman is going to lord over me” (page 86). Planning to execute Antigone, Creon’s reason is now sexism. He is obsessed with the idea of a woman appearing to have more power than him, “… never let some women triumph over us”, he goes further, saying, “better to fall from power, fall if we must, at the hands of a man” (page 94). Creon is not killing Antigone because she buried a traitor, but because she is a woman.

In Sophocles’ play “Antigone” she has heard the news that both of her brothers are dead. She has also learned that her brother Polyneices has not had a proper burial. The new King of Thebes, Creon has decreed Polyneices an enemy of the state a traitor. Polyneices and his brother Eteocles fought over the kingdom of Thebes and died at each other’s hand. King Creon wants Polyneices body to go unburied, to rot in the sun for the animals to have their way. Antigone’s asserting the supremacy of divine law buries her brother Polyneices. She is willing to speak out against injustice, not adhering to conventional restrictions and inflicting laws. Antigone’s civil disobedience resembles twenty-century Martin Luther King, Jr., who also stood up for injustice. Antigone’s like King took the law in their hands and because of what they believed went against authority.

Humans are born with the potential to achieve greatness and to create a difference in the world. Though individuals possess the capacity to prove the immorality within them, they also possess an inner hero that is capable of performing tremendous good for the benefit of others. However, seldom do humans actually embrace the courage to stand up for their ethical principles and to challenge the existing social standards that are organized under strict leadership. Famous figures—from Susan B. Anthony to Rosa Parks—drew their moral heroism from the heroic action of characters in Greek literature such as Sophocles’s Antigone. The protagonist, Antigone, creates a conflict between her allegiances to political law and morals when the Theban king Creon decrees that the body of his nephew, Polyneices, remains unburied. To Creon, it sets a substandard example for the future of Thebes because Polyneices attacked his native city in a battle against the invading army of Argos. Since the morals of Antigone have a close connection with true justice and human well-being, she defies Creon’s laws and vows to give the proper burial rites to Polyneices as they were presented to her brother Eteocles. Antigone’s sacrifice to bury her brother results from a need to embrace family pride, a feeling to satisfy the gods’ desires, and a responsibility to represent the Theban citizens.

Through Antigone’s transformation from brave and stubborn to sad and regretful, she exemplifies that one simple action action of civil disobedience can have a huge effect on everyone. Antigone says “O city of theba! O my country! Gods, The father of my race! I am led hence- I linger no longer...” Unlike how she was before committing her act of civil disobedience, she is now sad and talking about her death. Senator says “This for to-morrow; me must take some thought on that which lies before us; for this griefs, They are their care on whom the care has fallen. This implies that because of Antigone’s civil disobedience that led to the death of her and others. Senator and King Creon are seeing things differently because of all of these sudden

The only person in the city who is ready to defy Creon’s law is his niece, the sister to Polynices, Antigone. She is overcome with grief by Creon’s order, and sets out to bury her brother. She believed that Creon, “a mere mortal,” did not have the power to “…override the gods, the great unwritten, unshakable traditions…” surrounding the rights of a dead man (Line 503-505). Her loyalty was to her family, not to the new king of Thebes. When Antigone goes to her sister Ismene to plead for her help in burying their brother, even she is too afraid of Creon’s authority to assist her only family. “I must obey the one’s in power,” she says. “...defy the city? I have no strength for that.” (Line 79-80, 93). She is lead to go against what she feels is morally right because she is fearful of the consequences. Even though Antigone is aware of these deadly consequences, she is willing to face them and stand up for what she believes is right. Discovering that Antigone has gone against him, Creon immediately sentences

In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the title character is engaged in a moral and legal battle with King Creon. The king has issued a legal verdict against the brother of Antigone. He is to be left to rot in the battlefield, rather than be buried. As such, his body will be eaten by vultures and not be given the honor of burial. This was considered the worst punishment that could be given at the time. Antigone believes that this is wrong. She decides to go against the legal orders of the king, or the law and bury her brother. Mostly, Antigone chooses to listen to a higher order: her moral conscience. In doing so, she commits an act of civil disobedience. While the play is an ancient one, this is an ongoing issue throughout society. Since the play was first performed, there have been numerous episodes of civil disobedience by individuals in society (Leshak 2009). They continue to the present. This paper will discuss the issue between Antigone and the King. It will then discuss how this play is still relevant to the modern world through the message of civil disobedience.

She rebels against Creon’s rules and against the Greek patriarchy by continuing on with her plan. Creon’s indignation on antigone causes a disapproving son, who is Antigone’s fiance and ultimately the rest of society, eventually leading to Creon’s ultimate failure to lead as a king. Antigone overturns a fundamental rule, that women are not superior and should not speak out against man created laws. Since Creon has a misogynistic mindset, this leads to the Gods of Thebes to penalize him. “Nor did I think your edict had such force that you, a mere mortal, could override the gods” (II.4.503-504). Antigone spoke up against Creon for what was right to her, which was a rule followed by her people all the time and a law created by the Gods. However, Sophocles show the reader where fault lies and how women were viewed in Greek society, Antigone, however is a breakout character who goes against the human law and a threat to the status quo.