Quote:

“Knowledge truly is by far the most important part of happiness, but one must neglect nothing that the gods demand. Great words of the over-proud balanced by great falls taught us knowledge in our old age.” (Lines 1348-1353)

Comment:

            This is the last line of the play delivered by the chorus after Creon has exited the stage back into the palace. He has just been told by the chorus that he can only accept his fate and the repercussions of his actions. This is summed up well within the chorus’ line on lines 1337 and 1338: “What will be will be. We must act on what lies before us. The future is the gods’ concern.” The chorus then remains on the stage and addresses the audience to deliver the last line of the play.

            I chose this particular quote, because I felt as though it brings together the moral of the entire play. One cannot have happiness if they neglect to obey the gods. However, I would take this one step further by concluding that Sophocles is actually trying to tell his audience that people cannot live in peace and happiness if they do not obey the higher power, whatever that may be. For example, if laws are not obeyed there can be no moral order. I also believe that Sophocles is warning his audience against dismissing the ideas of societies youth. I would seem that he is trying to say that wisdom or knowledge does not necessarily come with age and that sometimes we must listen to our youth to stay true to our moral compass.

            These ideas relate directly back to what we had discussed in class. During our last meeting we discussed the topic of religious duties vs civic duties. Throughout the entire play Creon proclaims that civic duties should be valued most, whereas Antigone believes just the opposite. By the end of the play we see Creon finally take on the repercussions of his ways while the chorus explains that he should have listened to his advisors and Tiresias. Though I see the error in Creon’s ways, I believe that there are many people today who are just like this character. There are many leaders within society who lose sight of moral or religious duties while acting under the civic law. This will bring me to my question which I will pose below.

Question:

             Do you agree with the chorus? Are religious duties more important than civic duties?