Civil Disobedience in Antigone and Trifles Essay - 1096 Words

Civil Disobedience of Antigone and Mrs. Hale Civil disobedience is the purposeful violation of a law to show that it is unconstitutional or morally defective. In the plays, Antigone and Trifles, the female main characters commit an act of civil disobedience. The plays are respectively written by Sophocles and Susan Glaspell. Antigone, the main character of Antigone, protects her dead brothers honor as she disobeys the laws of King Creon. Mrs. Hale, the main character of Trifles prevents a neighbor from being charged with homicide as she breaks the law in front of two lawmen-The Sheriff and the County Attorney. Both characters crimes are similar; however, their differences lie in how they handle their violations. Antigone†¦show more content†¦Wright. Mrs. Hale knows that even if Mrs. Wright murdered her abusive husband who was like a raw wind that gets to the bone (Glaspell 1298), the wife will not receive a fair trial. Mrs. Hale is aware the laws are made and carried out by men. In addition, she knows juries when it comes to women (Glaspell 1300). With this in mind, Mrs. Hale hides all incriminating evidence to prevent Mrs. Wright from having to face a judge and jury composed of biased men. Both women defy the rule of the land to prove the law is defective. This is where their similarities end. They both break laws for good reasons. Their strategies are very different. Antigones plans are brazen and have disastrous consequences. Mrs. Hales actions are surreptitiously handled and do not cause any damage. Mrs. Hales scheme is better approached and is smartly executed. She prevents herself and her neighbor from any punishment. As the Sheriff and the County Attorney search for some definite thing (Glaspell 1300) or something to show anger (Glaspell 1296), Mrs. Hale finds a dead canary. Knowing Mr. Wright is a hard man (Glaspell 1298), Mrs. Hale assumes the husband killed the wifes pet. Mrs. Hale notes, No, Wright wouldnt like the bird-a-thing that sang. She [Mrs. Wright] used to sing. (Glaspell 1299). Mrs. Hale realizes the significance of the dead bird. The dead bird is something to show anger (Glaspell 1296). She