Who is given the strongest case, Antigone or Creon? based on 'The Burial at Thebes'

Who is given the stronger case, Antigone or Creon? Answer with specific references to the text of the play. Seamus Heaney's play The Burial at Thebes is based on ancient tragedy Antigone, which was created by Sophocles. Both Heaney's and Sophocles' plays are set in ancient Thebes. The outline of the story is drawn from Greek myth and the action starts very early in the morning. The Burial at Thebes tells a story of an encounter of two strong characters: Antigone and her uncle Creon, who defend their own rights. Creon as well as Antigone will not bend their believes against others or surrender. Each of them has a strong case, but who is given stronger? Antigone a loving sister, ready to sacrifice her own life for her religious believes, represents gods immortal laws . Her love towards her brother gave her strength to follow gods precepts as ''religion dictates the burial of the dead''. Antigone knew well that there would be consequences when Creon's law would be broken. When cough by guards and brought to face Creon Antigone confirms that she knew that proclamation forbade the burial. Antigone's arrest leads to her agon (opposing speeches by two main characters) with Creon about correct conduct and the conflicting demands of loyalty and honour. Antigone explains Creon why she disobeyed ''the law was not/ The law of Zeus nor the law ordained/ By Justice, Justice dwelling deep/ Among the gods of the dead. What they decree/ Is immemorial and binding for us all ''. She is observant only by gods laws not by ''mortal force ''. In her speech to Creon she says: '' I abide/ By statutes utter and immutable-/ Unwritten, original, gods- given laws''. For Antigone the pain of leaving her brother, Polyneices, ''lying above ground/ Insulted and defiled'' would be worst then suffering Creon's punishment. She says: '' I never did a nobler thing than bury/ My brother Polyneices''. It is clear that Antigone have chosen to do the right thing over obeying mortal laws. On the other hand her behaviour is reckless. Not even once she tried to reason with Creon and attempt to change his mind. Antigone did not put much thought into what kind of consequences her act will have. She knew that the punishment for disobeying Creon's law was death, but not for one minute she thought about others: her sister, Ismene, or her future husband, Haemon. Antigone is not afraid of death, albeit she bids her goodbyes begrudgingly, which is visible in the last encounter between Chorus and Antigone. Chorus name Antigone as '' glorious/ In life and in death (…) immortal''. That is to much for Antigone and she admits that she is afraid '' I dread/ To leave our groves and springs''. Right to the end, Antigone stands by her believes. Her final exit is marked by her assertion in gods will. She links duty to gods and brother with religious observance: '' Condemned (..