I enjoyed reading the article, “The Burial at Thebes”, because it helped me to think about the story of Antigone in a new, more in depth way, as well as see more meaningful connections between Antigone and our society today. Before reading this article, I had recognized that the story of Antigone strongly relates to our lives in that the emotions and feelings provoked are ones that we experience through trials in our everyday lives, but now I see that there are other powerful connections between the societies and politics of Antigone's time and our's today.
The separation of church and state still exists as a shady concept today, and we face controversial situations where this becomes a problem. For example, the article discusses the "controversy over the removal of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube." Her husband had claimed a legal, as well as moral, right to end her life to relieve her of her suffering, but because this is both a religious and lawful issue, it is difficult to know which power to abide by. This also connects to Antigone's choice to go against the law of Creon in the story of Antigone. She believes in following a higher power and asserts her right to abide by it by burying her brother. She explains why she made this decision by saying,
"I disobeyed because the law was not
The law of Zeus nor the law ordained
By Justice, Justice dwelling deep
Among the gods of the dead. What they decree
Is immemorial and binding for us all.
The proclamation had your force behind it
But it was mortal force, and I, also a mortal,
I chose to disregard it. I abide
By statutes utter and immutable--
Unwritten, original, god-given laws." (p. 29)
Antigone's choice to obey the laws of the gods rather than a mortal force like herself shows us how each individual's opinions and beliefs can clash when dealing with controversial rulings and how these decisions should be made. This idea seen in the story of Antigone has remained relevant as it has been read and passed down through the ages. Seamus Heaney even writes that "he took on the task of translating the play because of its relevance to political events playing out in our world." “The Burial at Thebes” has truly helped me to see deeper, more meaningful connections between Antigone and our society today.
The separation of church and state still exists as a shady concept today, and we face controversial situations where this becomes a problem. For example, the article discusses the "controversy over the removal of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube." Her husband had claimed a legal, as well as moral, right to end her life to relieve her of her suffering, but because this is both a religious and lawful issue, it is difficult to know which power to abide by. This also connects to Antigone's choice to go against the law of Creon in the story of Antigone. She believes in following a higher power and asserts her right to abide by it by burying her brother. She explains why she made this decision by saying,
"I disobeyed because the law was not
The law of Zeus nor the law ordained
By Justice, Justice dwelling deep
Among the gods of the dead. What they decree
Is immemorial and binding for us all.
The proclamation had your force behind it
But it was mortal force, and I, also a mortal,
I chose to disregard it. I abide
By statutes utter and immutable--
Unwritten, original, god-given laws." (p. 29)
Antigone's choice to obey the laws of the gods rather than a mortal force like herself shows us how each individual's opinions and beliefs can clash when dealing with controversial rulings and how these decisions should be made. This idea seen in the story of Antigone has remained relevant as it has been read and passed down through the ages. Seamus Heaney even writes that "he took on the task of translating the play because of its relevance to political events playing out in our world." “The Burial at Thebes” has truly helped me to see deeper, more meaningful connections between Antigone and our society today.