What good is any law that does not represent the morals of the society that must live with them? At what point must the society question the intent of the regulations? This is where civil disobedience comes into play. Mahatma Gandhi once stated, “It is one’s obligation to disobey unjust law.” We have seen many cases of civil disobedience in literature, as well as in reality. From early Greek plays to modern day exhibitionists, civil disobedience has always been a successful vehicle of protest.

“I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for law.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.

“I will bury my brother; And if I die for it, what happiness! Convicted of reverence – I shall be content to lie beside a brother whom I love.”  In this scene of the play “Antigone,” we find Antigone explaining to her sister Ismene how she will bury her bother, despite the law restricting it. She is willing to face the harsh consequences that will result in her actions that represent her belief.

Antigone is willing to defy the unjust law “openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty,” as Martin Luther King has suggested to do. Antigone does not hide the fact that she is to bury her brother; “Publish it to all the world!” She feels that she must violate this unjust law for the love of her brother; “Is he not my brother, and yours, whether you like it or not? I shall never desert him, never.” Antigone also is awaiting the consequences that will follow; “I will bury my brother; And if I die for it, what happiness!”

With out a second thought Antigone goes through with the illegal burying of her brother, Polynices. A sentry comes to Creon with the news that someone has buried Polynices. The crime is then traced back to Antigone, who is then brought to Creon. When asked if she understood the law she replied that, yes, she did understand the law. However, she strongly felt that Creon was not strong enough to surpass the unwritten laws of human nature. “I did not think you edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man.”

Martin Luther King Jr. once defined just laws and unjust laws as the following: “A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law of the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.” The law forbidding the burial of Polynices, was obviously an unjust law that did not represent the morals of the society. “All these would say that what I did was honourable, but fear locks up their lips. To speak and act just as he likes is a king’s prerogative,” stated Antigone to Creon.

As most things do, civil disobedience comes down to one’s faith. One’s faith towards someone, or something. But overall, civil disobedience comes down to one’s self-faith. One’s faith towards their personal beliefs and morals. Laws defying one’s morals, also defy their faith.

What good is any law that does not represent the morals of the society that must live with them? At what point must the society question the intent of the regulations? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves. Living under these unjust regulations is sinful and our obligation to defy. Saint Augustine once said that “An unjust law is not law at all.”