Antigone, Stasimon III

“Yet, now, seeing these things,

I am forced to transgress justice,

No longer strong enough to restrain

The river of tears when I see Antigone

Proceeding to her final place of rest.”

Artwork: Antigone sentenced to death (anonymous)

After Haemon confronts Creon, the Chorus of Theban Elders reflects on how love is one of the most powerful forces in the world. They sing of how love conquers all battles: it even seems to transcend reason and law. They acknowledge love as a force of both creation and destruction. It can bind people together, or lead them to their downfall. They also point out the tension between the individual’s duty to abide by divine law and the rule of human law, a major theme of the play. But, lurking beneath the surface, might there be another lesson? The Chorus here offers a cautionary reminder that love can overwhelm even the strongest individuals. Antigone’s love for her brother, Polynices, has led her to defy the state, and she now faces tragic consequences. The key lesson here is that as much as Antigone’s motivations are noble, we need to learn to balance our passions and convictions so they don’t cause us to stray from wisdom. Antigone is as unflinching as Creon and therein lies her tragic flaw. Her greatest strength, taken to the extreme, turns against her. She is blinded to any other truth or path forward. We need wisdom and foresight to prevent harm, and so we can discern when to act and when to temper our inclinations. A very Aristotelian undercurrent indeed.