No wisdom but in submission to the gods.

And proud men in old age learn to be wise. (158)

Throughout Sophocles' drama, Antigone, there are many themes that can be traced. One of the most predominant themes is god versus man, which appears not only in Antigone, but also in many of the classic Greek tragedies written in Sophocles' time. This quotation above serves as the moral for this tragedy, which includes an illustration of the theme as it was applied to the play. In the drama, Antigone, the theme of the inner struggle between allegiance to human law versus divine law can best be seen through Antigone's reverence for the gods in relation to her actions, Kreon's realization of the effects of his selfish pride, and the people of Thebes' observations about Kreon's decisions.

Antigone has the most direct struggles with human law and a higher law in the drama, for it is the application of this theme that decides her fate. Faced with the decision to defy the King and properly bury her brother, Polyneices, or leave his body unprepared for death as Kreon wished, she chose to obey the wishes of the gods and bury him. At the time of the

Antigone: It was not God's proclamation. That final Justice

Haimon: Yes, if the State is a desert. (151)

Haimon: It is no City if it takes orders from one voice.

Chorus: Reverence is a virtue, but strength

The gods are deaf when we pray to them, their fire

Kreon: My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city!

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Approximate Word count = 2008
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)