Antigone broke what Creon considered as the “law” in which he expected Polyneices body to be left out for the birds and dogs to scavenge. However, Antigone notes that the dead deserve honors, and as a social duty accords Polyneices a decent burial. On this, Creon is wrong and sentences Antigone to death, a sentence that finally leads her to her suicide. Creon is thus guilty in misapplying the law and disobeying the desires of the gods. The second reason why Creon is guilty is his error in discrediting Polyneices afterlife, a fact that he later acknowledges a mistake. His choice to go against the wishes of the people led him to make an unpopular decision in convicting Antigone. He was consumed by hatred and gratified to pardon Polyneices.
Confucius argued that individuals have the moral obligation to uphold and preserve the family social order. At the same time, they must uphold and respect the government’s command and law. Creon defended and honored government hierarchy and was not guilty of Antigone’s death. Creon was supporting the government’s authority in sentencing Antigone to death. As the sole custodian of the law, the state empowers Creon to make a self-judgment. Thus Creon must uphold the law and follow on the authority of the government is not guilty of Antigone’s death. At the same time, individuals do have the moral obligation to respect the government’s statutes in addition to upholding the family pecking order. Going against the government hierarchy, no doubt comes with punishment as meted by Creon by sentencing Antigone. Creon is not guilty due to Antigone’s death since individuals are expected to respect the government and failure to do so bears with it the burden of a sentence which Creon undertakes diligently.
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