Advice Column|Dear Abby...
FutureFather-in-law wants to kill me...Q: My dear brother, Polynices has died in a terrible war against my other brother, Eteocles who also died, so my future father in law, who also happens to be my uncle, took over as the king of Thebes. But Eteocles was buried by him, while Polynices was laid out for the birds to eat his guts. Because of this, i took his corpse and attempted to bury it, only to have Creon discover it. So now he wants to have me killed, which is why I'm stuck in this cave, yet I'm still able to communicate with you.... What should I do? Should I apologize for my disobedience to his law, or should I accept my fate and just take my life?
-Antigone A: Dear Antigone, I believe that only you know what you should truly do. If you believe in the "right" thing to do and what is morally correct, then I would die fighting for my brother. But if you value your life too greatly to take your own life, then I would just apologize and make amends with you uncle. I wish the best of luck to you. -Abby |
Future Daughter-in-law openly defies me...Q: My future daughter-in-law, Antigone, openly defies my law to not bury Polynices and won't give up her stance. She knows that my decree states that those that bury him will be killed, yet she continued to defy me. Now I have her locked in a cave to hide my guilt, but I also believe that our human laws are much more important than those stupid religious laws, especially the one about burying the dead. What should I do? Should I kill her, or should I pardon her with a warning?
-Creon A: Dear Creon, I believe that you should do what is morally correct. I cannot tell you what to do since you are the king of Thebes, but I can suggest to you that maybe killing her may be a bit too rash and extreme. I personally believe that you should pardon her, for Polynices was her brother. However, that is your decision to make. Hope that I helped. -Abby |
Sister is openly defying the king...Q: My sister is openly defying the king and is unmoving in her stance of burying our brother, Polynices, after the war. Our Uncle Creon wants nobody to bury the body and to let the body be eaten by birds. Should I help my sister and fight for what is right, or should I just stay low and let my sister take the sole consequences of this? What should I do?
-Ismene A: My dear Ismene, I believe what you should truly do is to let your sister do her own deeds and to suffer for her own actions. She would want you to stay innocent and to have your hands clean of these actions, for she has made up her mind and prepared for what is to come, while you have not. Hope that everything goes well. -Abby |
The morally right side, or the ruler side...Q: In this dispute, I have been on Creon's side and have reported to him everything that has happened. I told him that it was initially Ismene that buried Polynices but i was actually incorrect. Now I know that Antigone is the morally correct one in this dispute, but Creon is also the ruler. Who do I side with?
-The Chorus A: Dear Chorus, I believe that you should side with Antigone because you truly seem to believe that she is the morally righteous party and that she deserves to win this dispute. Take care. -Abby |