Antigone vs. Socrates Essay examples - 681 Words

Antigone vs. Socrates In the plays Antigone and the Crito the two lead characters, Antigone and Socrates, showed completely different ideas regarding their responsibilities to the State. Antigone believes in divine law and does what she thinks that the Gods would want her to do. Socrates, on the other hand, believes that he owes it to the State to follow their laws whether he thinks they are right or not. In Antigone, her brother Polynices, turned against his own city by attacking his own brother just so he could become king. On this day, both brothers died. One, Eteocles, was given funeral honors, but the other, Polynices, was not. This decision was made by Creon, Antigone#8217;s uncle and the current King of Thebes. Creon†¦show more content†¦Socrates, contrary to what Crito says, feels that he has an implied contract with the State. He believes that his family staying in Athens and raising him there was the greatest compliment they could have given him, so he feels that he owes it to the State to accept its laws and to remain a willing partner to the State. Socrates#8217; feelings were summed up on page 64 when he says: #8220;If the state leads us to wounds or death in battle, we follow as is right; no one can yield or leave his rank, but whether in battle or in a court of law, or in any other place, he must do what his city and his country order him#8230;if he may do no violence to his father or mother, much less may he do violence to his country.#8221; (Pg. 64) By this quote, he means that a man must do what the State tells him to do and should back the State in all of the State#8217;s endeavors. Personally, I am torn between the two ideas. I believe that the State usually makes laws that do protect most of its citizens and if it doesn#8217;t, they usually realize it and make a change. On the other hand, if you truly believe that a law is unjust, then you should follow your convictions until the law is changed or becomes acceptable. I think that if I were in either Antigone#8217;s or Socrates#8217; position, I would probably have done the same thing that they did. Clearly, Antigone and Socrates have very different ideas regarding the type of law they follow.Show MoreRelated Antigone Vs. Socrates Essay examples664 Words   |  3 Pages Antigone vs. Socrates In the plays Antigone and the Crito the two lead characters, Antigone and Socrates, showed completely different ideas regarding their responsibilities to the State. Antigone believes in divine law and does what she thinks that the Gods would want her to do. Socrates, on the other hand, believes that he owes it to the State to follow their laws whether he thinks they are right or not. In Antigone, her brother Polynices, turned against his own city by attacking his own brotherRead MoreSocrates Sides with Creon or a1379 Words   |  6 PagesSocrates#8217; Sides With? Through my reading of Plato#8217;s Apology of Socrates and Crito, I have been able to see how Socrates makes important decisions and what he primarily bases his decisions on. As a individual person we have individual morals which lead us to our own moral or immoral decisions. Sometimes are own morals or beliefs might oppose the views of the state or the enforced law that clams to find justice. In this case we rely on our own beliefs that may be through passedRead MoreEssay Platos Apology of Socrates and Crito1326 Words   |  6 Pages Socrates Sides With? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Through my reading of Platos Apology of Socrates and Crito, I have been able to see how Socrates makes important decisions and what he primarily bases his decisions on. As a individual person we have individual morals which lead us to our own moral or immoral decisions. Sometimes are own morals or beliefs might oppose the views of the state or the enforced law that clams to find justice. In this case we rely on our own beliefs that may be throughRead MoreAn Ideal Hero: Greek vs. Roman Essay1527 Words   |  7 Pagescultural propaganda. Greek Heros= models of courage skill to men (what to be) women (what to look for- sense of security). a. Dominant Theme: warrior code of personal honor and glory b. Contrasting themes: Family principle, simple country life vs. war, admiration of enemies. 5. Literary works by Homer Blind poet Homer - represents the culmination of a long and vigorous tradition in which oral recitation—possibly to instrumental accompaniment—was a popular kind of entertainment.