Examples Of Injustice In Antigone

Many citizens break the law created by the government for a reason you would never expect. One should break the law if one is the agent of injustice. One should follow their morality. Although others might say that one should always obey the law and not risk breaking it, because it could lead to corruption and rebellion. Henry David Thoreau’s claim makes sense that one should break the law if one is the agent of injustice as demonstrated in Antigone, Civil Disobedience, and Hero or Traitor.

In the drama Antigone, by Sophocles, he argues that moral laws are far more important than laws created by the people in power. For example, when Antigone was admitting her guilt about the burial of her brother in front of the king, she claims, “but all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal unrecorded laws of God”(2.prologue,361-362). This supports Sophocles claim by showing that God’s law comes before the laws created by humans. Antigone believes the king is weak against the laws of God. This is significant because Antigone followed her morals instead of following an unjust law

For example, he boldly states that “If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.” This supports Thoreau’s claim because if the government makes a law that forces you to be an agent of injustice, then you have the right to break it. In addition, Thoreau believes that the best government, is the one that does not make a lot of laws. "That government is best which governs least." A government should not dictate to the citizens, but enforce whatever is agreed among the society. We as citizens, should have the ability to know our limits, and obey certain rules without being forced. To conclude, Thoreau agrees that breaking the law due to injustice is