1. Civil Disobedience Citizenship vs. Family Loyalty Fate vs. Free Will
Antigone Themes
Civil Disobedience
Citizenship vs. Family Loyalty
Fate vs. Free Will

2. Civil Disobedience
Creon: Laws enacted by leader – believes the law is the basis for justice, so no such thing as an unjust law
Antigone – believes there are unjust laws, and has a moral duty to disobey a law that contradicts what she thinks is right.
Creon’s law contradicts customs of the people and traditional laws of gods

3. Citizenship vs. Family Loyalty
Creon and Antigone – extreme opposite political views on where to place loyalties
Creon has strict definition of citizenship that calls for the state to come first.
Creon believes Polynices forfeits burial rights because he attacked the city (disloyalty to state).
Antigone – loyal to traditions and family above obedience to the ruler.
Antigone believes loyalties to both gods and family outweigh loyalty to city.

4. Fate vs. Free Will Ancient Greeks belief: Free Will?
Gods can see the future
Independent profits (Seers) and priests who resided at temple of the gods (Oracles) can see future
Seers & Oracles were regularly consulted
Oedipus: kills father/marries mother
Sons will kill each other in battle for Thebes
Free Will?
Tiresias visits Creon and gives a warning (not a prophecy) Says Creon can redeem himself by changing his decision – but Creon stays strong- headed until it’s too late – is caught in the grip of the fate he can no longer escape