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Antigone: It is all current like electricity
The state and religion: we do not normally associate one with another. The state and
religion should not be interrelated according to Sophocles’ Antigone as well as the French
government. In Antigone, Kreon brings the state and religion together which results in
tragedy in the Greek city-state of Thebes. In France meanwhile, the French government,
the state, has banned all religious items from school. Religion should not interfere with
the state and why the state has no business in religion.
In Antigone, Sophocles explores the consequences of the intertwining of state and
religion when Kreon does so. Kreon’s word is law in Thebes. He is a victim of hubris and
this is clearly his tragic flaw. Hubris can be defined as having excessive pride and
arrogance, which clouds his judgment. Kreon blatantly shows his arrogance, “Whoever is
chosen to govern should be obeyed—must be obeyed, in all things, great and small, just
and unjust!” He will not accept anyone questioning his rule. Kreon believes that he is a
living deity. This cannot happen if religion and the state are not to coexist. What he says,
others must do. This creates an important conflict between the word of Kreon and the
wishes of Antigone and Haimon. Tieresias, a blind seer in Thebes, a symbol of religion,
tries to plead with Kreon when he intertwines religion and the state but to no avail.
Tieresias believes that “a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong and
repairs the evil.” Kreon shrugs off this advice because he holds the power to do so and he
knows so himself. He puts it simply, “You forget yourself! You are speaking to your
King!” Teiresias cannot believe this and curses the King. It is this curse that leads to
crumbling of Thebes with the suicides of Haimon, Antigone and the Queen of Thebes
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Eurydice. After the death of the people closest to Kreon, he realizes the mistakes that he
has made and how hubris has clouded his judgment. Kreon shows his realization with
mournful words, “Nothing you say can touch me anymore. My own blind heart has
brought me from darkness to final darkness.” This realization shows what Sophocles tries
to communicate, that the intertwining of religion and state will only lead to tragedy.
Antigone and Haimon illustrate opposition to the connection of religion and state. This is
because they oppose Kreon’s word as he stands for this connection. They believe and try
to convince Kreon that he has no role in the practice of religion. Antigone states that it is
Kreon rather than god who states these laws, “I dared. It was not God’s proclamation.
That final justice that rules the world below makes no such laws.” Antigone believes that
she has the right to bury her brother according to her religious beliefs rather than the
words of someone who believes he is god like. She believes that Kreon has no right in
dictating whether she has the right to bury Polyneices. Antigone believes that is the gods
who dictate this. Haimon also believes that Polyneices deserves an honourable grave.
Haimon believes that, “You [Kreon] have no right to trample on God’s right.” This points
out Haimon’s displeasure for the way Kreon rules Thebes. Kreon however will hear none
of their convincing argument and pushes the opinions of the two aside. Antigone and
Haimon take matters into their own hands with Antigone first burying Polyneices and
then committing suicide. Haimon too takes his own life.
In France, the French government has banned all religious items from schools in the hope
of stamping out conflict within the classroom. This is the message that has been
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conveyed by the French government. Parliament has voted in favour of banning all
religious materials from schools with a large majority for the new law. Four hundred and
ninety-four were in favour while just thirty members were against it. This just shows
what the majority of the French believe. That religion has no part in schools. There was
opposition to this ruling especially from hard line Muslims in a country where ten percent
of the population worships Allah. The French government’s reasoning behind this push to
ban religious items is to keep religion private and “to ensure that all pupils are equal in
the classroom.” The ruling party UMP calls it a “political answer to what is a political
problem.” A political problem that involves an influx of new immigrants from northern
Australia. These immigrants are Muslim and this has created a seething problem under
the surface of France’s picture perfect skin. This tension between the immigrants has
entered the classroom where conflict has arisen. This new law will cut this conflict in
classrooms where teachers are sometimes needed to resolve problems in relation to
religious items such as headscarves. They majority of the French population realize that
this conflict will lead to the dismantling and segregation of French society. The Muslim
minority however says it will divide and segregate pupils in the classroom further. They
believe that this law is “unfair against Muslims.” One thing this law will certainly
achieve is free young Muslim woman from the wrath of their fathers who may force them
to wear the headscarf.
The conflicts in Antigone and the ruling made by French parliament have regarding the
underlying ideas being communicated. Sophocles and the French government are
communicating the same message. That the state and religion should not cross paths.
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Both are also communicating the tragedy that is associated with this intertwining. The
consequences in Antigone are the deaths of people close to Kreon. In France, the banning
of large religious items has been put in place to stop conflict within the classroom.
Conflict in the classroom could lead to the disintegration of French society. This
disintegration would be a disaster because France is known for being a cosmopolitan
society and the breakup of this is not what France wants.
There is no doubt that both the French state and Sophocles believe in the separation of
church and state. The reasoning behind Antigone and the new law imposed by French
parliament is to avoid conflict. Both believe that this conflict will cause destruction. The
French inside the classroom while Sophlecles in day-to-day life in Thebes. They do have
the right to believe so. Religion is catalyst for disaster and should not interfere with the
running of the state. France has realized this and are making the right decision in banning
religious items for public schools. Identity and religion is important but it should not
interfere with education. Sophocles is correct in warning the public about the
consequences of intertwining the two. He knew that blurring the boundaries would be
dangerous and did something about it by communicating his ideas through his writing
and drama. France’s decision is an intelligent one because it is referring to history to
make an informed decision. In the words of George Santayana, “Those who cannot learn
from history are doomed to repeat it.”
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References
Santayana, G. (2007). Wisdom quotes. Retrieved from
http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_history.htm
Sophocles. (2007). The oedipus cycle. Orlando, Fl.: Harcourt.
French headscarf ban opens rifts
By Caroline Wyatt
BBC correspondent in Paris
As expected, the French parliament has voted in favour of a new law to ban the wearing of Islamic
headscarves in schools.
And despite mass protests by French Muslims in recent weeks, the ban won by a landslide.
It will not just affect Muslim girls - large Christian crosses and Jewish skullcaps are also banned, as almost
certainly are Sikh turbans.
After months of public debate, the vote in parliament was a brief affair.
Just five minutes for each party to sum up their position on this controversial new law.
Then, the vote itself - passed by 494 votes in favour, with just 36 against.
This means that as long as it is approved by the upper house next month, the new law will come into effect
in September, banning all obvious religious symbols from schools.
President Jacques Chirac's ruling centre-right UMP party has been the driving force behind the law, which
is backed by some 70% of French people.
UMP deputy Jerome Riviere says France's secular nature was being challenged by a small minority of
hardline Islamists, and he insists the law is not about suppressing religious freedom.
"We have to give a political answer to what is a political problem," he said.
"We don't have a problem with religion in France. We have a problem with the political use by a minority
of religion."
Yet others warn that far from uniting the country, this new measure will divide it more than ever.
At a small demonstration outside the National Assembly, just under 200 protesters gathered to oppose the
new law. Most were young Muslim women, all wearing headscarves.
Risk
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As the children of immigrants, they say, they have a dual identity - both French and Muslim - and they
blame France for failing to accept its newer citizens.
"It is unjust and I am very angry, angry yes, it's not just, it's a law, a segregation," one woman told me.
Another protester said: "We are very upset especially with this law, we think this is very unfair against the
Muslims. But this is not only a threat for Muslims but for whole French community."
Others here say that that feeling of rejection or alienation could even drive some young Muslims into the
arms of Islamic fundamentalists.
Green party leader Noel Mamer opposed the new law.
"I think it's a very bad law, a law which takes the risk to make worse the rift between two parts of the
French population," he said.
Yet teachers in France are relieved that it will no longer be up to them to arbitrate on disputes over whether
Muslim pupils can wear the Islamic headscarf in class.
Personal choice
Ghislaine Hudson, a headteacher who gave evidence to the Stasi commission on secularity, says she
understands the concerns surrounding the law, but believes it is the only way to ensure that all pupils are
equal in the classroom.
"We have to work with our teachers, we have to work with the students, the families, we have to explain to
them that this is a law for their own protection," she said.
And that's a view supported by some French Muslims, some of whom came to France partly because it is a
secular state in which religious belief is kept a private matter.
Iranian-born writer Venus Kavoussian says that as an immigrant, she values and respects France's
traditions.
"It's important that school stays non politic, non religious - personally I am living in France because it is a
secular space," she said.
But others say this will leave some young Muslim girls with little choice but to leave French state schools
and seek private education elsewhere - leading to less integration, exactly the opposite of what the French
government says it intends.
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