1. Conflict between Creon's Edict and Divine Law:
- Antigone's Dilemma:
- Antigone, the protagonist, faces a moral dilemma when her uncle Creon, the King of Thebes, issues an edict forbidding the burial of her brother Polynices, who was declared a traitor.
- Antigone believes that she has a moral and religious duty to bury her brother according to ancient customs and religious rites, regardless of Creon's edict.
2. Creon's Stubbornness vs. Human Compassion:
- Creon's adherence to his edict and his pride lead him to ignore pleas for mercy and understanding from Antigone, his son Haemon, and the chorus.
- Haemon tries to persuade his father to reconsider his harsh decision, emphasizing the importance of compassion and respect for the gods.
3. Antigone's Defiance vs. State Authority:
- Antigone's deliberate defiance of Creon's edict challenges the authority of the state and raises questions about the limits of a ruler's power.
- Creon is determined to assert his authority and maintain order, even if it means violating moral principles.
4. Fate and Divine Justice:
- The conflict also involves the interplay between human actions and the forces of fate or divine justice.
- Antigone's choices and Creon's decisions have severe consequences, eventually leading to their downfalls and the unraveling of Thebes.
Throughout the play, these conflicts explore profound themes of loyalty, familial duty, individual conscience, justice, and the consequences of pride and stubbornness.