Justice And Reputation In Antigone

Throughout one’s lifetime, conflicts between justice and reputation often arise. Due to this, one must be able to realize the consequences when standing up against an oppressive power. In the play Antigone, Antigone is motivated and acts upon justice as seen in her defiance to the law, love for Polyneices, and her persistent moral compass. Antigone’s fight for justice shows just how powerful she can be with her words and actions.

Antigone realizes she may have to risk her reputation in order to accomplish justice. According to Antigone, her brother Polyneices deserves equal treatment and burial just like Eteocles had. Antigone is openly honest when she says, “ Ismene, I am going to bury him” (Sophocles 191). Antigone has disregarded Creon’s rules and thinks the law is merely a suggestion. Antigone, however, is aware that crossing Creon will possibly ruin her reputation or get her killed, yet she is determined to carry out her plan. Going forth with her plan proves that Antigone’s fight for justice has to do with her belief that Polyneices warrants a proper burial for that is his god given right. Antigone is adhering to the moral laws set by the gods in which she accepts as law not to be broken. As a result, Antigone

Just like Antigone, Polyneices has his own moral compass to help him decipher right from wrong. Encouraged by Polyneices bravery, Antigone decides she too must be willing to let her conscience lead the way, “And if I die for this pure crime, I am content for I shall rest beside him” (Sophocles 192). When exclaiming this Antigone makes it obvious that she has completed her goal to listen to her conscience and act upon it. In comparison, the visual image in Source Two illustrates an image with the words “stand our ground”. Just like Antigone, the image shows a person willing to defend their opinion and argue their point to achieve their