Question

According to Knox, why wouldn’t Creon have second thoughts about denying burial rights to a traitor? Why might the Greeks of Sophocles’s time agree with Creon? Provide a quotation from the text that supports your response.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

Creon believed that Polyneices tried to attack his own country and kingdom to which he was chosen by the gods to protect and promote progress and not to destroy, as he tried to do. In this case, Creon believed that a traitor to the homeland should not be buried in the soil of that homeland because it would be disrespectful to all who strive and love the country.

The Greeks of the time could agree with Creon, as they were extremely nationalistic and considered love and fidelity to their nation as something sacred and deserving fidelity.