POLI 231 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Polynices, Sophocles
10 Feb 2015
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The right of an individual to reject society"s infringement on his freedom to perform a personal obligation, illustrated by antigone"s refusal to dictate what she does with the body of her family member (her brother). He has no right to keep me from my own . Sophocles insists that it is that of the gods, and otherwise would mean the moral downfall of his society. Sophocles presents that in certain cases civil disobedience should be allowed, such as honoring the gods. Creon defines citizenship as utmost obedience to the will of the state, and thus condemns antigone to death when he feels that she has abandoned her citizenship by disobeying him. Antigone allows more room for individualism within the role of the citizen. Polyneices: for creon, the fact that polyneices has attacked the city effectively revokes his citizenship and makes him a foreigner. As defined by this decree, citizenship is based on loyalty.
