He calls Antigone evilbecause she has violated an edict of the state (Allbaugh). Creon shows that he putsthe state above his own blood relatives when he says The eyes of the nation are onme. I must stay true to my principles. I must execute her. I dont give a damn for allher talk about family ties. If I allow my own relations to get out of control, that gives thecue to everybody else (Sophocles 17). Creon does not save Antigone first because hehas just been warned of the grave danger to the whole state and to his family from theanger with which the gods view his treatment of Polynices body. The community, eventhe other persons in Creons family, were more important than just Antigone alone(Norwood 63). The conflict of human laws versus divine laws is also a very dominant theme inAntigone. Critic Edith Hall put it very well when she said: The very first law whichCreon passes that the body of the traitor Polynices is to be refused burial is in directcontravention of the Unwritten Law protecting the rights of the dead... (56). Creonsjustification for his act is that the dead man was a traitor to his own city and would havedestroyed the State as it was known at that time (Norwood 60). The chorus in the playseem s to be uneasy about Creons edict not to bury Polynices, but they do not daredefy the law. They seem pleased when they find out that Polynices has had some typeof burial, even suggesting that maybe it was the work of the gods (Bowra 64). There are two parts to Antigones defense. First, she claims a higher authorityfor her actions than mere human law. She also acknowledges that she understandsthe penalty of disobeying Creons edict, accepts the penalty, refers to her familyobligation to Polynices, and concludes with a defiant attack on Creons foolishness(Hogan 144). Antigone advises Creon as to his position as king in relation to the gods(Hanson 51) when she says I dont consider your pronouncements so important thatthe...
