Inner Turmoil in Antigone
Inner Turmoil: When You Have to Choose In Sophocles’ Antigone, the tragic hero, Antigone, must choose between the laws set by man, and her religious beliefs and family loyalty. When her brother, Polynieces, is killed in battle, King Creon sets forth a law prohibiting the burial of Polynieces. Antigone is very loyal to her family; we see this when he buries Polynieces’ body, even when Creon forbade it. On many occasions, people are faced with tests where both answers are right, but those people are forced to determine which option provides them with the best possible solution to their predicament. This often creates inner turmoil within the individual. Antigone proves herself to be a very loyal family member when she states, “That must be your excuse, I suppose. But as for me, I will bury the brother I love” (Pro. 64-65). She cares not of the law set forth by Creon when it conflicts with her beliefs concerning loyalty to loved ones. She chose the law of the gods above all other decrees, disregarding that the cost is her life. Even after the body’s guards brush off the thin layer of dust to negate the effect of the prompt burial given by Antigone, the heroine risks life and limb to see that Polynieces receives a proper burial, and she is arrested in the process. Her retort to Creon’s accusations was, “I do. I deny nothing.” Antigone is confident in her choice at this point. She even stands up for Ismene’s fraud confession, and she will “not have [Ismene] help” because Antigone’s loyalty to her family is too great (1. 132). We do not see Antigone’s inner turmoil until Scene 4 when she is being led to the vault where she is to die. She is speaking to Choragos and the Chorus and begs for pity. She feels as if “sleepy Death summons [her] down to Acheron, that cold shore: There is no bridesong there, nor any music” (4. 5-10). Antigone feels as if there is no hope left and begins to regret her decision because she will never be able to, for example, get married.