Start of Mlk Antigone Comparison

Paper #1

David M Smith

In Sophocles' Antigone, there are similarities of civil disobedience to Martin Luther King Junior's Birmingham jail letter. Both strive to do what they believe is right, even if it is against the authority, only to do what they believe is the right thing to do.

There are some of Martin Luther King Junior's ideas that I believe to be very notable. Some of his ideas that I feel that are quite important are the fact that Martin Luther King Junior was a nonviolent protestor and did not believe in violence, he only wanted equal rights to both Caucasians and African Americans. In fact he believed so highly in the cause of equal rights that he stated, "Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?" and "Are you able to endure the ordeals of jail?". My understanding of Martin Luther King Junior actions in Birmingham was to show the government that he would do whatever it takes to earn equal rights without causing harm, he believed in a more developed plan of action such as sit ins, and marches. Believing that negotiating was, and still is the right thing to do to advance equal rights between African Americans and Caucasians. A big quote that should stick out about the law system is when Martin Luther King Junior states "How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?". Then goes on to say "the answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws: there are just laws, and there are unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "A unjust law is no law at all." He proudly stood for equal rights and even if it took him going to jail for his cause he knew it was worth it, because he truly believed one day everyone would have their God given rights.

And then in Sophocles' Antigone she stood for what she believed was right when she went against the ruling of the king known as Creon, and buried her brother Polyneices. In her case she wanted her family to be treated equally, when Polyneices and Eteocles, which were brothers, were at war with each other and ended up killing