ipl-logo

Similarities Between Antigone And Martin Luther King

1243 Words5 Pages

As Thomas Jefferson stated, “if a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.” The story of both Antigone and Martin Luther King is one that has changed the views of how people feel towards unjust laws and how they act to alter the society’s views towards it. They are both perfect examples of people who risked their life in any way possible to get their opinion through to others and try to make a change in the common beliefs of society. Both of them experienced similar situations in relation to what they fought for, but made different impacts in their society. Antigone and Martin Luther King demonstrate that the stakes they have do justify their actions. Martin Luther King argued that an ethical law is one …show more content…

“Once known, the fact that a person is a homosexual or a member of a racial minority group is regarded by members of the majority group (heterosexuals, Whites) as one of the most important pieces of information about her or him (Hereck).” The law of marriage only to opposite couples had affected a large portion of people that had different sexualities. This law encouraged people to go out and fight for their rights by starting petitions and protests as well. In this case, I believe that it was also seen as an unjust law, where it was only fair to part of the …show more content…

The sacrifices that Antigone is taking do justify her actions because she is doing what she believes is right. In this case, she is accountable of being faithful to her brother, Polyneices. People are constantly fighting for what they believe is correct, and that sometimes involves taking risks in life. Antigone ultimately lost her own life, however she knew that she completed her responsibilities in respect to her own family and the Gods who wanted Polyneices to be buried. Being a part of a society where there exists many opinions and rules about specific things, the only form one can truly make a difference is by ultimately getting their own opinion known to others no matter the stakes. This is exactly what Antigone did, where despite the fact that society wouldn't go against the king’s rules, Antigone went out and did just that by doing what she believed was

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Soothes And Intimidates Laws In Antigone

    1234 Words  | 5 Pages

    But, Antigone is also wrong and takes an incorrect approach by being so immovable herself and in her swiftness of action. Her first thought of disobedience was to perform the act that would result in her death. She decided that she would have to die to get her point across- self-martyrdom. Her process was not thought out and she jumped to the extreme. Antigone is too willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for what she believes in.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Antigone And Letter From Birmingham Jail

    881 Words  | 4 Pages

    King stated that he was “compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town” (King 21); likewise, Antigone was compelled to perform own duty to her family. The actions of Antigone and Martin Luther King, Jr. were aimed to spur tension within a community that would eventually cause the subjugators to confront the issue. Indeed, King’s work was able to catch the eye of political leaders at the state and local level, just as the city of Thebes ends up quietly supporting Antigone and enraging Creon. In both cases, neither figure sought to provoke anarchy, but instead aimed to bring light to corruption that was already boiling in a pot

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Antigone And Martin Luther King Jr

    1510 Words  | 7 Pages

    Both Antigone and Martin Luther King Jr. engage in civil disobedience. Despite the similarities, they carry out civil disobedience in very different ways. Explain the differences between Antigone and King’s views on civil disobedience, the reasoning and purposes behind their disobedience, and different means they use to achieve their ends. Pick one version and argue it’s merits versus the other, using specific examples from both readings. Renowned for their defiance against the laws mandated within their society, both Martin Luther King Jr. and Antigone stood out as revolutionaries.

    Read More

  • Differences Between Antigone And Letter From Birmingham Jail

    554 Words  | 3 Pages

    The struggle for justice has been the motivating factor for various movements across time. From fictional characters like Antigone to famous figures like Martin Luther King, it is possible to see various differences between their approaches to the law and how to change it. In Antigone's dialogue with Creon and Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, the two characters share a variety of differences in their stances. Antigone’s dialogue with Creon focuses on religious law and how it is above mortal law while King’s letter focuses on changing mortal law without relying on religious law to dictate it.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Civil Disobedience In Antigone

    1786 Words  | 8 Pages

    Civil Disobedience Martin Luther King once stated in "The Letter from Birmingham Jail", "Any individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment to arouse the conscience of the community over it injustice is in reality, expressing the highest respect for the law" (King 411). King meant that, if anyone feels a law is unjust and needed to expose its injustice, should willingly accept any penalty that comes in their way to help arouse people 's conscience in changing that law. In “The Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King explains the four powerful steps of the nonviolent campaign he used to protest against racial injustice for African-Americans

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Antigone And The Lottery

    1104 Words  | 5 Pages

    Tradition is a theme found in both the short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and the play Antigone by Sophocles. In both stories tradition is used as a tool to force people to conform to the “norm” of society. In “The Lottery”, the people of the town revolve around their annual lottery. Everyone is quick to help each other get ready for the event and also show no remorse for the end of the ritual. Nobody objects to the continuation of the lottery, although Mr. Adams brings up the rumor that a nearby village were talking about giving up the lottery but he was quickly shut down by Old Man Warner.

    Read More

  • Is Creon Justified In Antigone

    1501 Words  | 7 Pages

    In the classic play by Sophocles, Antigone is a tragic story of the bold Antigone who defied her uncle, King Creonʻs, edict by burying her brother, Polyneices, who died attacking the city of Thebes, trying to take the power away from their brother, Eteocles, who refused to share the throne with Polyneices. Even though Antigone knew that going against Creon and burying her brother would not end well for her, she still choose to risk her life to do what is right. After being caught breaking the law, Antigone is appointed to be locked away, isolated in a cave until she dies, but she hangs herself at the end. At the same time, things for Creon are not looking good, as everyone around him seems to be against him in his decision for punishing Antigone. Everyone Creon cares about kills themselves from a curse that is put on Creon for not following the Godsʻ laws.

    Read More

  • Comparing Sophocles Antigone And King's Letter From Birmingham

    338 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sophocles’ play Antigone, and Martin Luther king Jr’s Letter from Birmingham Jail analyze the underlying truth concerning their moral situations tied in with the legal systems of their times. Antigone was faced with whether to follow her heart and go against her very own uncle, while King himself did not face any personal dilemmas but was providing the intended audience a choice, either to side with his methods or fall in to the power of their faulty legal system. In this paper, I will argue how both pieces face different moral and legal dilemmas in their own unique way which ultimately questions the jurisdictions set forth by those in power. Does law reflect morality? In this short play, Antigone is faced with the choice to either bury Polynecies

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Antigone And Martin Luther King Jr

    1113 Words  | 5 Pages

    was a powerful figure in the history of civil disobedience and left lasting impacts on our society. While Antigone, important in literature, was no more then the cursed daughter of Oedipus doomed like her father to be rash and selfish. It was not Antigone’s but MLK’s version of civil disobedience that made had the most profound impact; he helped end segregation and racial injustice in America through non-violence and self-enlightenment. MLK fought for justice for all and fought to insure the rights of future African

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Jr And Socrates Comparison Essay

    648 Words  | 3 Pages

    Political activists and philosophers alike have a challenging task of determining the conditions under which citizens are morally entitled to go against the law. Socrates and Martin Luther King, Jr. had different opinions on the obligation of the citizens in a society to obey the law. Although they were willing to accept the legal punishment, King believed that there are clear and definable circumstances where it would be appropriate, and sometimes mandatory, to purposely disobey unjust laws. Socrates did not. Socrates obeyed what he considered to be an unjust verdict because he believed that it was his obligation, as a citizen of Athens, to persuade or obey its Laws, no matter how dire the consequences.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King And Antigone Comparison Essay

    1055 Words  | 5 Pages

    We can see this direct disobedience when Antigone says “nor did I think your proclamations had such strength” (38). This statement highlights her disregard for authority, her carelessness, and her inability to follow the rules set before

    Read More

  • Antigone Sacrifice Essay

    385 Words  | 2 Pages

    Arguably she made a heroic decision, but deciding what her intent was behind those decisions is questionable. Undoubtedly one of Antigone’s motivations was to be certain that both of her brothers were resting

    Read More

  • Antigone Noble Death Analysis

    1059 Words  | 5 Pages

    Her death had a major impact on the city and her family’s legacy. So, it was justified that she made the decisions she made that lead to her noble death. Antigone’s love for a noble death is shown throughout the book. When Antigone finds out that her brother will not be given a proper burial, she sees it as an opportunity

    Read More

  • Civil Disobedience In Antigone

    1353 Words  | 6 Pages

    Laws have maintained the order and stability of society from old days of ancient civilization to today’s contemporary society. As law-abiding citizens, we allow the laws to be enforced through punishments and consequences; however, when these laws threaten ethical values and justice, they are challenged in a non-violent method known as “civil disobedience.” In Sophocles’ Antigone, Antigone challenged the political authority of Creon in a defiant act that related the struggles between her duty as a citizen of Thebes and her loyalty to her family. In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” written by Martin Luther King, Jr., King protests racial injustices and systemic racism throughout the South and laments the need for civil disobedience to be used

    Read More

  • Power Of Love In Antigone

    1315 Words  | 6 Pages

    The play Antigone, by Sophocles, presents the power of love, which the sword cannot defeat. Nevertheless, the play itself provides the idea in which it might be argued whether love is one of the superior forces in society that drives people to pursue their ideals. The story itself, places Antigone determined to carry out the burying of her brother Polyneices with the purpose of honouring him and giving him the importance she thinks he deserves. Considering this an act of love, Antigone is willing to overcome the laws of the state and Creon’s orders by sacrificing her own life in order to distinguish the reputation of her family.

    Read More

More about Similarities Between Antigone And Martin Luther King

Open Document