eople of Thebes obey the laws of the city because of their fear but because it is a shame to dishonor the king. To go against the king's claim and dishonor the law is to die a more shameful death than Antigone's mother and father. Consequently, Antigone does not want to let her brother be left without a proper burial. She believes that in order to show proper respect and love towards her brother she must bury him. Her beliefs in "The laws that the gods hold in honor" are far more important than those set by the king. (Antigone 91-92) She feels that the king cannot override the rulings of the gods. Antigone feels very strongly about burying her brother against Creon's orders. She refused to back down from her opinion even when confronted by the king and sentenced to death. Antigone's reasoning is: "It wasn't Zeus, not in the least, who made this proclamation-not to me. Nor did I think your edict had such force that you, a mere mortal, could override the gods. (Antigone, 500-504) She goes on to say that she does not want to go before the gods after she had disobeyed them because of a decree made by a mortal king (458-459). The loss of a brother is greater to Antigone then the loss of any other kind. She says, "For had I lost a son, or lost a husband, Never would I have ventured such an act against the city's will. And wherefore so? My husband dead, I might have found another; another son from him if I had lost a son. But since my mother and father have both gone to the grave, there can be none henceforth that I can ever call my brother"(907-914). To Antigone, this is another reason to honor her brother as she honors her brother she is honoring her mother and father as well. Creon, being a new king, wants to prove his abilities. He is being harsh, so the people of Thebes do not take him for a pushover and other problems arise. Creon feels that if someone dishonors the city in which he rules, they must be punished. If Polyni...
