Introduction
Since Antigone was written by Sophocles more than a thousand years ago, starting today, this play is still relevant. Writing is based on personal conflicts and choices that border between what is morally right and what is legal. The world has not changed much since the time that Antigone reflects. People hear today’s news about wars, protests, people’s choices, and the roles of men, women, and sexual minorities. The play resonates with many generations to answer questions about equality, rights, and societal challenges, and is relevant even in the 21st century; the tragic hero is Antigone, since she sacrifices herself for others and reflects the topics of equality between rights and justice.
Moral Dilemmas and Personal Sacrifice
First of all, decision-making, both in Antigone’s time and now, in most cases, still requires a gray area in the right choice, that is, a dilemma. Readers are faced with a critical dilemma: deciding which is more important: the laws established by the government or the virtues and ethics of man (Sophocles 540). The answer is simple, based on the situation at the beginning of the work, when the author writes that Eteocles is honored and Polynices is dishonored because his body was left unburied on the battlefield.
At that time, it was considered a shameful and severe punishment. However, Antigone assumes the role of hero and undertakes to retrieve her brother’s body and give him the burial she feels he deserves, regardless of the consequences. It is confirmed in the following quote, “Antigone, who has been described as ‘the first heroine of Western drama,’ has been interpreted both as a heroic martyr to conscience and as a willfully stubborn fanatic who causes her own death and that of two other innocent people” (Mambrol).
Today, many people take part in wars and perform such feats, but the dilemma of whether to do such an action or not always arises. Many things that make people critically analyze and think about choices because they are not always black and white happen in today’s world. Parents report learning that adults have assaulted their children, and because of the limitations law enforcement has with the protocols they must follow to comply with the law, the perpetrators fail to be punished.
Such events cause the victim’s parents, or even the victims themselves, to take it upon themselves to seek the justice they believe the person who hurt them deserves. In Antigone’s instance, Creon is given a prophecy from Tiresias that he will lose the child because of his crimes of not burying Polyneices, and the gods supporting him. This part is entirely accurate to today’s society, as children often still suffer because of the past sins of their parents.
Haemon and Antigone commit suicide before Creon returns to right his wrongs. Like any other mother, Eurydice’s wife felt such grief for her child that she ran away from the environment because the stress surrounding her was too great. Later, the author also reveals the scene where she ends her life due to these circumstances. Unfortunately, many people today cannot withstand the pressure of problems and the influence of society, and decide to end the situation in this way.
Law, Leadership, and Social Order
In the history of humanity, people have always had a particular system of laws and rules that they must follow, which has had a decisive effect on the needs of civilization. Given this pattern, laws and civilization go hand in hand. The modern world thrives on democracy and freedom. Social media and television shows reflect such prerequisites for a happy life. People shoot content in which they are convinced they have rights as human beings, which gives them certain freedoms in some situations, such as public filming. People can film something publicly if it is not against any laws.
In Antigone, Creon is the one who understands the importance of laws and how they affect the people he rules. On the one hand, he is the tragic hero of the play because of his sacrifice, since freedom depends on his following the laws. Creon declares that Polyneices will be left to rot on the battlefield, but that Eteocles will be buried with dignity because he was a traitor who allied with other cities and attacked his city (Etxabe 5). That is why he declares that anyone who tries to give him the dignity of a proper burial will be sentenced to death.
Creon states, “Anarchy, anarchy! Show me a greater evil! Therefore, cities tumble, and the great houses rain down. This is what scatters armies!” (Sophocles 535-537). Thus, it demonstrates the importance of political power through its obligation to citizens to obey the laws given by their leader.
The recent impact of the pandemic has shown people the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of those who feel they are being stripped of what they believe to be their constitutional rights. Regardless of where people live or where they go, the rules include wearing a medical mask, staying at home, and even mandatory vaccinations. Political leaders are shown how being frightened makes society feel that it is out of control of everything happening around them in their personal and public lives.
Therefore, when Creon tries to give orders and follow the laws, it is very similar to the situation today, where people are obliged to follow the rules that have been established to ensure safety and the common good. Although this play is thousands of years old, it is pretty relevant in the modern world since the problems of humanity then and today have not changed; only the approaches to solving them have changed. If once those who disobeyed the law were executed, now there are particular colonies and prisons for them.
Today, many great leaders rule like Creon. All of them knew and declared the importance of the law and how each of them would affect their people. Examples are Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Joe Biden, and Boris Johnson.
In the play, Creon shows that he is a great leader who does what is best for all people, not just one. However, he also makes it clear that he has indeed made a decision that is considered too harsh for what has been done. The ruling shows that he should have considered the opinions of others to make a more informed decision about the punishment. This part of the play indicates that personal growth gives people hope that they, as people, can change and transform under the influence of circumstances.
Women’s Roles: Then and Now
If we compare the roles of women in the time of Antigone and now, they have changed as women have gained a place in the politics of many countries; the struggle continues, but to a greater extent, it is hidden. For example, Hilary Clinton was a candidate for the Democratic Party in the US presidential elections and received sufficient support. The world, which men dominated for many years, gave space to women to fight for their rights, which was actively traced in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Antigone shows women’s struggle in a male-dominated society (Goldhill 315). The women there show newness and change that reveal a sense of impact on the main themes depicted in the play (Söderbäck 1). The women in the play put their families first, but how they react to different situations is what distinguishes them, and that is their love for their families.
For example, the protagonist sacrifices her life to show support for her dead brother, even when others choose to take her side. She is a heroine of her time who chooses to do good despite her life’s difficulties. The play represents feminist women committed to fighting various forms of injustice worldwide.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Antigone reflects the problems of humanity that are still relevant today. Examples include wars, rebellions, the roles of women and men, and the government. The play demonstrates the persistent efforts of women to defend their rights and the rights of their families. Antigone, being the main character, denies the customs and norms of contemporary society to free the people around her from the injustice inflicted against them.
No one knows what will happen tomorrow, and some people will face much more significant difficulties than others. Grief, protests, and suicide can go hand in hand or even be experienced separately in human lives. The play contains many instances that resonate with the problems of modern society and even with the current politics that happened recently during the pandemic crisis. Therefore, Antigone will always be as relevant as humanity will allow. Critically evaluating this work, one can see how it can fit into our society at any time, even considering the past.
Works Cited
Goldhill, Simon. “Antigone: An Interruption between Feminism and Christianity.” International Journal of the Classical Tradition, vol. 21, no. 3. 2014, pp. 309–16. Web.
Etxabe, Julen. The Experience of Tragic Judgment. Routledge, 2013.
Mambrol, Nasrullah. “Analysis of Sophocles’ Antigone.” Literary Theory and Criticism, 2020. Web.
Söderbäck, Fanny. Feminist Readings of Antigone. State University Of New York Press, 2012.
Sophocles. Antigone. 2011, pp. 1–41. Web.