In Antigone Creon seems to hold the idea that everything (including divine law) is
subordinate to the state. Creon proclaims "Anarchy -/show me a greater crime in all the
earth"(94,752-753). Creon later realizes that there may be things more important than the
state but by that time everyone is dead. Creon is also full of the kind of unfair blind anger
of a tyrant. This is very obvious when he decides that with no culprit at hand to take the
blame for the burial that the messenger should take responsibility. Creon allows no doubt
to enter into the realm of his ruling. When the chorus discusses that the gods may have
played a role in the burial he calls it preposterous saying that the idea of it will make him
"choke with anger"(73,317) dismissing the Leader as insane. Even when Tiresias, a man
who's advise Creon has "never wavered from"(110,1096) before, tells him that he is
wrong he reacts with more anger and denial. Creon dismisses the seer, until now a
respected advisor, as "mad for money"(113,1171) simply because he spoke against
Antigone is participating in some civil disobedience because she feels it is her
responsibility to do so. She sees that there are higher powers that need to be considered
in this matter. The two she's considering are responsibilities to family members and
responsibilities to gods. It wouldn't say much about her as a person if she were to allow
her brother to not receive a proper burial. It wouldn't say much about her respect for the
gods if she allowed this to happen either. She also has to consider the fact that she has
nothing to lose since her family is destine for bad things anyway. Ismene should have
joined her. Instead Ismene gets to go on being a wretched child of a wretched father while
Antigone brings to mind interesting questions about
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