Divine Law vs. Human Law
The religious duties of the citizen, or the civil duty of society?
"Nay, he has no right to keep me from my own"--Antigone p. 93
Antigone denies Creon the right of authority over the issue of burial. She feels that she has the sacred duty of burying her brother to fulfill, and she eventually does, only to her doom.
"...that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that only while she prospers in our voyage can we make true friend."-- Creon p. 96
Creon believes that the state and government are supreme to the religious laws and the gods. Creon believes that his law is greater than the actual law of burying the dead, and that his will is sovereign.
"My heart misgives me, 'tis best to keep the established laws, even to life's end."-- Creon p. 118
In the end, after all the bloodshed around his family, Creon has an epiphany. He realizes that the will of the gods overrides the laws set forth by humans. The laws of the gods are supreme and should have been the laws of the land in Thebes.