PUBLISHED WRITING #1

 Johann James Zachariah 

Professor J. Mignano Brady 

Literature for the Soul 

16 February 2023 

Written Law vs Moral Law: Published Writing #1 

Antigone is a classical Greek tragedy drama created by Sophocles, one of the greatest dramatists in Greece (496-406 B.C.). Antigone held moral values instead of degraded orders given out by her uncle; she wanted to allow her brother, Polyneices, to rest in a grave rather than rot on the battlefield. Even if Polyneices was a traitor of their kingdom, he was still her older brother and she held her moral ethics in higher regard. 

Antigone and Polyneices were siblings, a family, no matter how cruel or evil one is, one will always have a sense of remorse so it’s difficult for her to leave one of their beloved to rot in the battlefield even if they are a traitor. For example, Antigone says, “... but for myself I myself will bury him. I shall lie by his side, loving him as he loved me…" (Sophocles 1132). In “Antigone” by Sophocles, she believed that she should “shout it out”, Antigone wants to make it known to everyone as to when she buries Polyneices’ body. Antigone says, “I know I am pleasing those I should please most” (Sophocles 1132). Antigone said this to Ismene, her sister, when Ismene refused to tell everyone what Antigone's plans were and calling her action as “chilly deeds” (Sophocles 1132). Antigone wanted to go against Creon’s orders to bury her brother and she wanted to “please him” in a sarcastic manner showing how brave she is to stand up against a King even though she’s only a princess. She was determined to face anything blocking her way for her brother who the King sees as a traitor. 

Being righteous is following your moral values, a person who lives their life with their moral values don’t regret the choices they made in life because they chose to do what they believe is right; their emotions and their sanity prompts them to choose what appeals to their ethics and morals. According to “Antigone” by Sophocles, “The time in which I must please those that are dead is no longer than I must please those of this world” (1132). She prioritizes the dead over the living and feels as though they have the right to be buried appropriately. Antigone sees the King’s decree to be unfair because both of her brothers died in the battlefield, and one was a hero and received a proper burial while the other was a traitor and his body was left to rot on the battlefield so that the crows and dogs can feed from it. Immanuel Kant was a German Philosopher and an Enlightenment thinker, he once said, “Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness”. Moral beliefs are not beliefs that’s forced up on your mind but rather beliefs that come to you instinctively making you realize what’s wrong or right. 

Moral law and Written law can create conflict in you when you are faced with a choice to choose this or that. Choosing to follow your heart rather than being logical for the society can make you feel your heart less heavy with burden because of the satisfaction that you receive of the happiness and the decision that you chose rather than following the society’s rules and making you indebted with guilt. Choose and follow your moral values that justify your cause than be obedient to the World’s law and nature.