Question

In Antigone, antigone defies King Creons order by burying Polyneices honorably. This defiance enrages creon, who is unwilling to tolerate any opposition to his orders. What theme of Antigone do the above events reflect?

Answer 1

The theme explored here is the clash between an individual and the society. Antigone who is an individual clashes against Creon who as the king represents the state, that is the society. He punishes her for not obeying him, that is, for not behaving in the way the society should work.

Answer 2

The above events reflect the theme of the path of morality versus the path of civil law and order.

Antigone buried Polynieces as she wanted that the family should do the burial rights after the death. Creon didn't want Polynices' body to go through the privilege of burial because he considered Polynices as a traitor. Creon is the king of Thebes who is arrogant and who never turns back. Also, he is obsessed with the civil laws and cannot bear anyone disobeying it. He is stubborn, full of pride and only believes in his words and decisions. This is very well known to the audience that it is Antigone who has buried Polynieces but the other characters are unknown of this.