Name:Suailim Islam Sakif

Code-23101501
section -Reflection-1:
In Sophocles' play "Antigone," the main character, Antigone, follows divine rules over human
laws all the time, which is an example of Divine Command Theory. This is clear from the fact
that she simply ignored King Creon's order not to bury her brother Polynices. The things
Antigone does and says in the play are very similar to the ideas behind Divine Command
Theory, which says that following God's rules is the best way to be good.

I'm now going to talk about divine order theory. If you believe in the Divine Command Theory,
you believe that God's orders determine what is right and wrong, no matter what you do.
According to this, moral duties depend on following God's rules, which point out what is morally
okay and not okay. This idea says that morals come from a higher power, focusing on the idea
that actions are automatically moral if God commands them to be, regardless of what people
understand or reason.

One notable instance demonstrating Antigone's commitment to divine commands occurs when
she asserts, "The laws of heaven are not of yesterday or today, but are everlasting" (Sophocles,
"Antigone," lines 484-485). In this passage, she talks about how divine laws are permanent and
never change. This shows how strongly she believes that these laws are higher than any
secular or human rules.

Further reinforcing her allegiance to divine law, Antigone declares, "Nor did I think your orders
were so strong that you, a mortal man, could over-run the god's unwritten and unfailing laws"
(lines 486-488). This comment shows how strongly she believes that human laws, even those
made by a king, are not more important than the laws that the gods have set in stone.

Antigone's firm acceptance of death as the result of her actions also shows how devoted she is
to God's orders. She states, "I shall suffer nothing as great as dying with a lack of grace" (lines
929-930).This unwavering acceptance of death shows that she puts divine principles ahead of
human effects, showing that she is firmly committed to the greater morality of the gods.

In his play "Antigone," Sophocles makes Antigone a character whose morals are strongly based
on the Divine Command Theory. The play shows how determined she is to follow divine laws
over human ones, as shown by her actions and words. This shows how strongly she believes
that divine orders are the most important moral rules.

Reference: Sophocles. "Antigone." Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics, 1984.

Pages 484-930.
Reflection-2:

Ismene's moral theory in Sophocles' "Antigone" is based on duty and following the rules, not
selfishness. She values duty to power and social order more than her own self-interest.
Throughout the play, her actions and words show that she cares more about following the rules
than making money for herself.

Egoism is a moral theory that says good behavior should be based on self-interest. It says that
people should put their own wants, needs, and well-being ahead of those of others. Ethics choices
are based on the aim of personal happiness or well-being. Things are morally right if they help the
person doing them. Egoism comes in many forms, such as psychological egoism, which says that
people naturally act in their own self-interest, and ethical egoism, which says that people should act
in their own self-interest because that is the right thing to do.

Egoism, a theory that puts self-interest first, is different from Ismene's view.. She refuses to
assist Antigone in defying King Creon's decree, emphasizing, "We must obey our rulers,
whether they command what is just or unjust" (Sophocles, Antigone, 522-523). This sentence
shows that Ismene values following rules and authority more than her own wants, which is
different from her usual self-centered behavior.

Ismene also doesn't want to help Antigone because she's afraid of what might happen and is
loyal to the current situation, not because she wants to help herself. She expresses, "I am more
afraid of breaking the laws of the state" (Antigone, line 573), showing how much she cares
about social norms and her commitment to keeping peace in society. Fear and following the
rules of society take place over personal wants, which goes against self-centered habits.

While Ismene acknowledges the injustice of Creon's decree, stating, "I do not say that your
actions are not just" (Antigone, 532), To her, following set rules is more important than her own
wants or needs. She is still committed to following the rules and being a good citizen, even after
being told this..

As shown by her unwavering loyalty to established authority and social order, Ismene's moral
view is more geared toward duty and following social rules than egoism. The way she acts and
talks in the play shows that she feels obligated to follow social norms, putting them ahead of her
own wants.

Reference:

Sophocles. "Antigone." In The Complete Greek Drama, Vol. I, edited by Edith Hamilton and
Huntington Cairns, 365. New York: Modern Library, 1938.
Reflection-3:

Creon, the king in Sophocles' "Antigone," strictly follows the law and values the stability of
society over individual morals. Although Creon upholds the rules of the state, he doesn't really
believe in any particular moral philosophy. Instead, he only cares about keeping things in order
and establishing his power.

A quick reaction to the political chaos after Oedipus' death shows how committed Creon is to
state laws. The fact that he forbade the burial of Polyneices, a traitor, shows how much he
wants to bring unity and stability back to Thebes. His position on keeping society in order is
clear from the fact that he puts state law ahead of individual rights or moral concerns.

He said, "He who rules must guard the laws" (Sophocles, Antigone, 661-662), which shows
that he thought of himself as the law's enforcer. Creon thinks that the law is the basis of a fair
society and feels obligated to defend it. This shows how much he cares about the state's
well-being.

On the other hand, Creon's dedication to state rules is not based on a clear moral philosophy. In
making choices, he is more concerned with keeping order and authority than with following a
certain set of morals. He cares more about the safety of the city than about moral principles or
bigger ethical issues. This shows that he is not committed to any particular moral philosophy.

By contrast, Antigone represents a moral theory that prioritizes commitments to family and god
above those imposed by the state. She ignores Creon's order because she thinks morality is
more important than human law. Antigone's dedication to family responsibilities and divine
precepts affects her view of state law. Her view that family responsibilities and divine principles
take priority over laws and regulations is the reason behind her insistence on burying
Polyneices.

According to Creon, the purpose of state laws is to maintain authority and order working as
means to maintain social stability. His actions show a dedication to maintaining the law for the
good of the city but they lack a thorough moral compass. On the other hand, Antigone
represents an ethical viewpoint that places an emphasis on family and divine duties, putting
state legislation at the bottom of a greater moral order.
References:

Sophocles. "Antigone." In The Complete Greek Drama, Vol. I, edited by Edith Hamilton and
Huntington Cairns, 661-662. New York: Modern Library, 1938.

Reflection-4:

The themes of human conscience, resistance against injustice, and tensions between
democracy and religion are all prevalent in Antigone, a tragedy that has deep relevance
to current problems in Bangladesh politics and society. These similarities are striking,
evoking the age-old conflict portrayed in Sophocles' play and pertinent to Bangladesh, a
country struggling with complicated political dynamics.

The conflict that many Bangladeshis have between their personal convictions and the
laws of their country is reflected in Antigone's resistance to Creon's mandate. This
struggle is still present in modern-day Bangladesh, where people must strike a balance
between following their moral convictions and following the law. This fight is best
illustrated by Tasneem Khalil, a Bangladeshi journalist who was arrested for criticizing
the government. His unshakable dedication to the truth is comparable to Antigone's
unwavering defense of her convictions despite the repercussions of disobeying
authority.

The conflict between religion and democracy in "Antigone" is a reflection of the

sociopolitical climate in Bangladesh. The way that Antigone followed divine law instead
than official decisions is similar to how Bangladeshi people submit to their religious
convictions above governmental power. Tasneem Khalil's narrative serves as an
example of this friction between religious and democratic values as his quest of truth
collided with official goals.

Antigone's resistance to unfair laws is reflected in Bangladesh's fight for increased

democracy and human rights. Like Antigone, Bangladeshi civilians resist totalitarianism
by upholding their morals. Similar to Antigone's civic disobedience, the 2018 student
protests for road safety were originally met with oppression from the government. Like
Antigone, the demonstrators refused to submit to unfair commands and fought for social
justice.
Antigone's resistance to unfair laws is reflected in Bangladesh's fight for increased
democracy and human rights. Like Antigone, Bangladeshi citizens resist
authoritarianism by upholding their morals. Similar to Antigone's civil disobedience, the
2018 student protests for road safety were initially met with oppression from the
government. Like Antigone, the demonstrators refused to submit to unfair commands
and fought for social justice.

Tasneem Khalil's story echoes the existentialist undertones found in Antigone's

discourse. His steadfast dedication to the truth reflects the existentialist ideas of
authenticity and personal accountability, reflecting Antigone's insistence on taking
responsibility for her deeds. His detention and commitment to the truth are reminiscent
of Antigone's existentialist struggle against social norms.

The conflicts in "Antigone" between authority and civil disobedience reflect the political
landscape of Bangladesh. The conflict between personal liberty and state regulation
corresponds with Bangladesh's fight for genuineness and speech rights. The struggle
between individual beliefs and governmental authority is highlighted by Antigone's
disobedience and Khalil's search for the truth. This conflict is a recurring theme in
Bangladesh socio political discourse.

To sum up, "Antigone" by Sophocles is an effective metaphor for Bangladeshi politics and
society. The play's themes of morality on an individual basis rising up to unfair treatment, and
the tensions between religion and democracy are quite similar to those that Bangladeshi
citizens experience. The play acts as a mirror reflecting the complex nature of Bangladesh's
socio-political location through the comparisons between the philosophical problems in
"Antigone" and actual situations such as Tasneem Khalil's story.

References:

Sophocles. "Antigone." In The Complete Greek Drama, Vol. I, edited by Edith Hamilton and
Huntington Cairns, 365-486. New York: Modern Library, 1938.

Amnesty International. "Bangladesh: Human Rights Overview." Accessed December 5, 2023.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asia-and-the-pacific/south-asia/bangladesh/

Human Rights Watch. "World Report 2023: Bangladesh." Accessed December 5, 2023.
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/bangladesh

The Torture of Tasneem Khalil. (2023, March 28). Human Rights Watch.
https://www.hrw.org/report/2008/02/13/torture-tasneem-khalil/how-bangladesh-military-a
buses-its-power-under-state