The Role of Morality and Leadership in Antigone by Sophocles (441 BCE)

Expanding the Roles:
Antigone by Sophocles is a Greek tragedy that centers around Antigone, the sister of Polynices, who defies the king’s decree by burying her brother. The play explores themes of morality, leadership, and the conflict between divine law and human law. For literature students, Antigone is an important work for understanding the complexity of moral responsibility, the nature of justice, and the consequences of challenging authority.

• Morality vs. State Law:
  Antigone’s moral obligation to bury her brother conflicts with the state’s law, which prohibits it. Students can analyze how the play examines the tension between personal moral duty and adherence to state authority.

• Leadership and Responsibility:
  Creon, the king, represents the authority of the state, while Antigone embodies the voice of divine justice. Literature students can explore how the characters’ actions reflect their differing views on leadership and responsibility, and how their choices lead to tragic consequences.

What We Learn:
Antigone offers literature students a profound exploration of moral duty, leadership, and the tension between state law and divine justice. The play emphasizes the complexity of ethical decisions and the consequences of defying authority for the sake of personal morality