Morals VS. Laws

 

Steven Lingerfelt                                                                                                        

2/17/23

Professor Mignano                                                                                                    

  EGL 102

Morals VS. Laws

 

            Throughout human history written law has always been under scrutiny of morality. The first written law, Hammurabi’s Code, is a violent and often unfair rule of laws. For example, Hammurabi’s states that if a person were to be guilty of theft, then his hand should be cut off. By modern standards this is an amoral act and is considered cruel and unusual. But in ancient Mesopotamia rule of law was the only thing separating a city from order and chaos. Other civilizations followed suite even after its collapse like Ancient Greece whose empire existed in separate city states, each with its own set of rules as well as morals. Antigone exemplifies this in its story, while in the City of Thebes and the state it is in after an invasion was fought off. Antigone is devastated after written law states that she cannot bury her brother but moral law states that she must. It is important to note that Antigone is not doing this for anyone else other than herself as stated “it wasn’t Zeus who pronounced these things to me, nor did justice” (Line 459). Antigone violates this knowing she faces death, but to her morality is more important than law.

 

Antigone is the sister of two brothers who die while fighting for the city, one defending it the other raiding it. By rule of Creon, the king of Thebes, the invading brother is not to be buried and will instead be left to rot on the city streets he intended to take. Before Antigone goes to break this rule of law she asks for the help of her sister, Ismene. She does not get far as Ismene views the rule of law, and by extension her own life, as more important than the mortality of burying her brother. This upsets Antigone who says, “I shall succumb to nothing so awful as a shameful death.” (Line 97) meaning that from Antigone’s view it is worse to do nothing than to bury him and knowingly die doing so. Martyrdom is an objectively moral act, to sacrifice yourself for the greater good and to stand up for what you believe is right in the face of death. Morality however is not only subjective but, in this case, can be viewed as self-fulfilling and even selfish. Ismene just lost her two brothers, the last direct family bloodline she has, and Antigone is now telling her that she is going to commit suicide for her brother. But as previously mentioned, morality is subjective and therefore cannot be reasoned with. Ismene feels her life is worth giving for the act of burying her brother, this makes the rule of law inconsequential and shows laws only work on those with something to lose.

 

Creon, King of Thebes, could be described as the main antagonist of the whole story. This however would be untrue as the real antagonist is the rule of law. Creon passed this law as a direct attack on Polyneices legacy and to set an example for all those who wished to defy his rule. Creon had no other choice in the position in the new position he found himself in. The previous king Eteocles, who was also Polyneices’ brother, died defending the city from invaders and was given a proper Greek funeral right to guide his body to the afterlife. Was an invader, and a usurper of the throne belonging to his own brother worthy of that? Creon felt that he was not, as this would go against his own set of morals. So, Creon forbade the burying of Polyneices stating “neither buried nor mourned by anyone, but everyone must leave him unburied, a feast for birds and dogs, an outrage to see.” (Line 209). Furthermore, had Creon not done this it would potentially reflect badly on him and affect the stability of a newly attacked city. Ancient Greece was ruthless in its punishments as well, often someone found guilty was not so much subjugated to a trial but more of an instant sentencing followed by execution of the punishment. Punishments were not as selective as they are today so often death was the easiest and fastest way to deal with any law breakers. Even if it’s your own niece who violates the law that you set in place, and in Antigone’s case especially so.

 

As previously mentioned, Antigone knew the punishment for breaking her uncle’s law was death. Yet she still did it, and Creon knew that the law he had just put into place could kill any number of relatives or comrades that Polynecies may still have in Thebes; But he had to enforece it as the new king of Thebes. He did this to enforce his rule and enstow in his people that no one is above the law. Creon did not however need to lock Antigone in a cave as her execution. This goes beyond cruel and unusual and shows that Creon was espically slighted by the fact that it was his own family that went against his rule of law. Furthermore when Haemon, who is Creon’s son and Antigone’s love instrest, learns that Antigone is going to be put to death for her crimes he pleads with his father and even threathens to end his own life. Creon does not seem to be fased by this and instead threatens to kill her right in front of him “Bring the hated thing, so that she may die at once, close by the eyes of her bridegroom.” (Line 774). Creon by this point has lost all morality and is now fully enveloped in his role as the King of Thebes. Morals do not matter to a man in his poistion, he instead can only live by and die by the laws that he proclimates and proclaims. Antigone however is the opposite of this, she knows that she has lost and that the only way out is death so she takes her own life. But by doing so she wins, Antigone will always be remembered as doing what she believed was right. The corus can be heard singing out “ you will go, the ruler of yourself, down to Hades.”( Line 829) meaning that even after being locked up Antigone made the best choice and can die knowing that. Creon however is not as lucky and instead loses everything he held dear.

 

In conclusion, while written law is potentially the greatest human invention, it does have its draw backs. Every day since law was introduced to the human race across the entire globe people began to debate whether or not these laws were just. This could be summarized as the catalyst for all war and human fighting, the desire to have your objective morals as law. It isn't known why Polyneices and Eteocles could not share the throne and rule as duel kings over Thebes, the most likely source is moral differences between them. Moral’s define a person and also help to define the ages that they are taking a part in. While people like Antigone we’re few and far between had she not done what she did Creon would rule unchecked. Her act of martyrdom shows humanity and still continues to teach us about the importance of valuing our own morals above the laws that are trying to instill their own morals and ideas.