Antigone is determined to honor her brother Polyneices with a proper burial and to do what’s right in the eyes of the gods. In order to carry out this courageous act, Antigone must defy the law that has been set by Creon, who is now ruling. He has ordered that Polyneices should be left unburied and unmourned, due to his label of being a traitor. Creon announces that Eteocles behaved honorable in defending the city of Thebes, yet his brother Polyneices was a dishonorable exile. Both brothers of Antigone, both gone before time, both killed in battle at the hands of each other. Antigones’ love for her brother is seen in her strong desire to defy the law. Anyone who buries Polyneices will be punished by death. What a tremendous burden to bear, death or honor. This one act of civil disobedience could lead Antigone to a premature death. “Our own brothers’ burial! Hasn’t Creon graced one with all the rites, disgraced the other? Eteocles, they say has been given full military honors, rightly so—Creon has laid him in the earth and he goes with glory down among the dead. But the body of Polynices, who died miserably. He’s to be left unwept, unburied, a lovely treasure for birds that scan the field and feast their heart’s content” (Antigone, pg 659, line 25-35). Antigone goes on to commit a small ritual in order to honor her brother and she does this in spite of what tragedy may lie ahead for her. I believe Antigone shows tremendous courage and love for her brother. She may be viewed upon as a treacherous woman, but she did it all in the name of honor.
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