Dating back to Fourth and Fifth centuries B.C., the Codified Behavior of Humans according to the gods was strictly followed. This code was filled with rules for humans to live by. These rules established a great deal of ideas in the eyes of authors of the time period, such as Sophocles, and are the basis of many Greek tragedies. If the rules are not followed, the entire community is affected and a miasma is cast. In many Greek plays, the plot pertains to society and the obligation of its citizens (Class Notes). The rule that Sophocles bases the play, Antigone, is to give those who have died a proper burial. This rule proves to be controversial as the subject of family is interpreted. In Sophocles’ Antigone, familial arguments are made through a variety of characters. Arguments are made concerning the proper burial of Antigone’s brother, Polynices; the relationship Antigone shares with her sister, Ismene; the actions made by the character of Creon; and the idea that divine power supports the notion of family. Throughout the play, Antigone states that she is honoring the burial rights of Polynices in accordance to the moral laws of the gods. However, her real reasons for defying Creon's edict are much deeper. Familial love and duty to family prove to be a far stronger argument for her motivation than honor toward the gods. Also, Antigone’s willingness to die for family preservation proves her feelings about the importance of her family. Through his familial argument, Sophocles suggests the importance of family during the Fourth and Fifth centuries B.C. as well as the belief that disregarding and fighting family can only end disappointingly.
In the dispute presented at the beginning of the play, Oedipus’ sons, Eteocles and Polynices, kill each other in an invasion of Thebes (Sophocles, Antigone Note). The invasion is based upon the jealously Polynices has towards his brother. To begin with, it is noticed that family has a great impact on the play in...