Tyrant VS Martyr

            
             The famous philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said, "The tyrant dies and his rule ends, the martyr dies and his rule begins." If a tyrant's, or a cruel dictator-like person, role is to diminish, he/she may not necessarily die, but his/her popularity will most definitely decline. As on the contrary is true for a martyr, or a person who suffers so as to keep his/her faith and/or principles. He/She will pretty much never die. In terms of Sophocles" play Antigone it makes a lot of sense. The quote can be use to describe the opposition of the two main characters in the play, Creon and Antigone, who have different and conflicting beliefs. One is a king new to the throne who will not be ruling for long, and feels that all shall obey the laws set forth by him, even if other beliefs, moral, and religious state otherwise, and the other, a woman who holds the beliefs of the Gods in high reverence and feels that the laws of the Gods should be obey above all others, especially when in respect to family.
             In the first part of Kierkegaard's quote, he states that a tyrant's reign dies with him. Creon portrays the part of the tyrant very well. He enforces his laws very strictly. After a son or father dies in battle, they are carried home to be properly buried by their families. Antigone's two brothers Eteocles and Polynices, kill each other in battle. Eteocles is view as a patriot and is bury because he fights for Thebes. However, Polynices is not buried because he rebels against Thebes. Creon leaves Polynices" body out to be attacked by dogs and vultures. Creon orders the people of Thebes not to bury Polyneices because of his dishonor towards Thebes. If Creon catches anyone burying him, "he" will be killed for disobeying the king's order. After Creon realizes that someone did bury Eteocles he sends his Sentry to find out who the culprit is. He also explains to his Sentry that if he cannot catch the culprit, he then will have to be killed.