HUM 103: ETHICS AND CULTURE

SUMMER 2023
Mid Take-Home Essay

ANSWER TO THE QUESTION -1:

The play "Antigone" by Sophocles talks about how religious beliefs and civic duties can cause

moral problems with burial traditions. The main characters, Antigone and Creon, have different

ideas about what's right, showing the debate between what's always true and what depends on the

situation. Antigone strongly follows her religion, while Creon cares more about human laws and

order. This essay will look at the important characters, explore the clash between religious

beliefs and civic duties, explain Antigone's important quote, and decide if Creon and Antigone's

views are always right or change with the situation. Lastly, we'll discuss Creon's system of right

and wrong and see if it's good or bad based on whether things are always true or not.

In "Antigone" by Sophocles, the characters play a big role in the story and explore themes like

right and wrong, responsibilities, and the clash between divine and human rules. Now, let's focus

on the main characters:

Antigone: Antigone is the main character of the play and she strongly believes in her religious

point of views. When her uncle Creon, the ruler, says she can't bury her brother, Antigone

disobeys him and follows her family's and gods' rules. She thinks divine laws are more important

and accepts the consequences. Antigone's strong commitment to her beliefs makes her stand

against oppressive authority and fight for what she thinks is right.

Creon: Creon is the new king of Thebes, unlike Antigone. He believes in following laws and

duties for the state. At first, he seems practical and wants stability. But he punishes Antigone for
defying him because he values human laws and the state's authority. As the story continues,

Creon realizes the consequences of his choices, teaching us about the challenges of being a

leader and the dangers of pride and stubbornness.

Ismene: Ismene is Antigone's sister and acts differently. At first, she's afraid to help bury their

brother due to consequences. She values obeying authority and staying safe. Ismene represents

the conflict between personal beliefs and societal pressure, unlike Antigone who's committed to

her principles.

Haemon: Haemon is Creon's son and Antigone's fiance. He represents reason and balance.

Haemon shows how the younger generation challenges authority and fights for fairness. He tries

to change his father's harsh punishment for Antigone and teach him the dangers of a proud leader

and the importance of listening to people's opinions.

“There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to

kill for.” (Harijan, 1938). This quote by Gandhi shows that he prefers peaceful ways and moral

principles over civic duties during conflicts. In "Antigone," the main character Antigone

disobeys the king's orders to bury her brother because of her religious beliefs. Both Gandhi and

Antigone are ready to sacrifice without violence. This raises a question about choosing religious

or moral beliefs over government laws. Antigone's actions make us think about government

power and the struggle between personal conscience and civic duties. It reminds us to protect

religious freedom and consider the impact of suppressing beliefs for political order. Gandhi's

quote highlights ethical concerns when religious devotion clashes with civic duty, which

connects to the ethical question in "Antigone" about burial rites.

“For me, the doer, death is best. Loving, I shall lie with him, yes, with my loved one, when I

have dared the crime of piety” (Sophocles, 441 BC).

In this quote, Antigone is determined to disobey King Creon's order and bury her brother, even

though he's considered a traitor. She believes it's better to die and honor her religious duties and

family loyalty. "Loving, I shall lie with him" shows her strong desire to be with her brother after

death. Antigone values family and religion. She sees her actions as a sacred duty and justice,

even if it goes against the government's laws. This shows the clash between her religious beliefs

and King Creon's duty as a ruler.

Absolutism means there are universal truths that apply to everyone, no matter what they believe

or where they're from. It says these truths don't change based on opinions or cultures. “Morality

is not relative, and ethics is not a matter of opinion.” (Zacharias, 2012). This quote by Ravi

Zacharias supports Absolutism, saying morality and ethics aren't subjective, but based on

objective truths. On the other hand, Relativism means truth, ethics, and knowledge are subjective

and depend on the situation. There are no absolute standards of truth, and what's true can vary

based on people's perspectives, cultures, or history. “What is true in one society or at one time

may not be true in another.” (Benedict, 1934). This quote by Ruth Benedict shows that truth

and moral values can differ between societies and times, meaning they're subjective and

changeable.

In "Antigone," Creon's moral position is like absolutism. He follows state laws and believes in

civic duty. He forbids Polynices' burial to maintain order and state authority. Creon's laws apply
to everyone, no matter their connections. Antigone's moral position is different. She leans

towards relativism, valuing religious duty and family obligations over state laws. Antigone

thinks divine law is more important and her personal beliefs decide what's right. Creon and

Antigone have different morals. Creon follows universal state laws and civic duty, while

Antigone values personal beliefs and family duties. This clash shows the conflict between

objective standards and personal choices in morals. Different views may offer different

evaluations of the characters' moral stances in the play.

Creon's moral system can be seen from two viewpoints. Some might say it's immoral because

morality depends on the situation. They think Creon's pride and refusal to listen to others make

his actions wrong. Denying Polynices a proper burial and punishing Antigone may go against

basic human values. But others might say Creon's moral system is moral because morality is

universal. They believe Creon follows the laws to keep order and protect the state's authority. It

depends on how you see morality. Some say it's different in each situation, while others say it's

the same for everyone. So, people may have different opinions about whether Creon's actions are

right or wrong based on their beliefs about morality.

References:

● Benedict, R. (1934). Patterns of Culture. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

● Gandhi, M. K. (1938). Harijan: February 12, 1938. Retrieved from:

 https://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/harijan_sept39_jan40.pdf

● Zacharias, R. (2012). Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend. Thomas Nelson.