Antigone

Loyalty appears to be a strong value possessed within characters of this Greek play, Antigone. In the beginning, both brothers of Antigone, Eteocles and Polynices, have both gone to war against each other resulting in death. They were in pursuit of ruling the city of Thebes but Polynices decides that he will deploy his army in an act of raging war to become the next crowned king. Creon, the uncle of Eteocles and Polynices, is introduced to the story after the brotherly war has ended. Because he is next to kin he will be King of Thebes. Out of respect for his God he will not provide a proper burial for Polynices as "he must be left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, an obscenity for the citizens to behold!" (230) Creon exemplifies his loyalty to his city by doing this and expects that all other statesmen follow in the same order.
On the other hand Antigone, Creon's niece, disagrees and believes that her brother's body should not be left exposed to rot. She has a duty to her family and wants him to be buried like any other honorable man. Antigone is committed to the welfare of her brother. She takes matters in her own hands to provide a proper burial for Polynices although this defies Creon's orders.