The Imbalance of Laws: Understanding the Complexity of Human Nature

Anouilh’s Antigone and Ibsen’s A Doll’s House explore the conflict that arises between
personal ideologies, necessity and morality with the rule of law. Consider the experiences of
central characters from each text; should the law be followed absolutely regardless of
circumstances, or is there room for it to be interpreted?
As a reflection of societal norms and values, the law must be interpreted flexibly,

acknowledging that personal convictions and moral obligations may challenge its absolute

authority in certain circumstances. In Jean Anouilh’s Antigone and Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House,

the central characters, Antigone and Nora, fight battles of their own, getting in trouble with the

law that oversees their society. These plays shed light on the tension between personal

convictions and laws, clashing with the complexities of human nature that are inherently diverse.

The laws and societal expectations differ in how they do not consider the morality and autonomy

of individuals. For this reason, it is undeniable that Anouilh’s Antigone and Ibsen’s A Doll’s

House both suggest that there is room for the interpretation of the law. Laws have to be

reconsidered due to the complexity of human nature. This is illustrated through both of the play’s

central characters’ loyalty to duty and defiance of authority.

The central characters’ loyalty to duty in Anouilh's Antigone and Ibsen's A Doll's House

vividly portray the complexity of human nature when personal convictions differ from legal

mandates and societal expectations, ultimately suggesting that there is room for the law to be

interpreted. As the play Antigone unfolds, Ismene and Antigone debate their opposing views on

burying their brother Polynices, both of whom have a duty to give him a proper burial despite the

law set by King Creon. After Isemene tells Antigone that they will be put to death by Creon if

they dare attempt to bury Polynices, Antigone boldly states, “Of course he will. That’s what he’s

here for. He will do what he has to do, and we will do what we have to do. He is bound to put us

to death. We are bound to go out and bury our brother. That’s the way it is. What do you think we
can do to change it?” (Anouilh 18). This quote identifies and foreshadows the inevitable death of

Antigone using repetition. Moreover, Antigone expresses the fate that she and Isemene share as

they both have the same conviction; to bury their brother regardless of the edict set by Creon.

This especially demonstrates Antigone’s loyalty to duty because, later in the play, she is willing

to challenge the edict by giving a proper burial to Polynices. This quote could also be examined

through Marx’s first premise, as Creon’s hubris would prevent Antigone from leaving unscathed,

even if she has a high social class as the princess of Thebes. Conversely, Nora, the central

character from A Doll’s House, demonstrates the complexities of human nature through the

complications she faces with her previously dying husband and dead father. Following the

development of A Doll's House, Nora abandons her duties as a wife and a mother to focus on the

“sacred duties” more meaningful to her. When Torvald asks if Nora has any moral sense, Nora

responds,

I assure you, Torvald, that is not an easy question to answer. I really don’t know. The

thing perplexes me altogether. I only know that you and I look at it in quite a different

light. I am learning, too, that the law is quite another thing from what I supposed; but I

find it impossible to convince myself that the law is right. According to it a woman has

no right to spare her old dying father, or to save her husband’s life. I can’t believe that.

(Ibsen 77)

Nora emphasizes the contrasting perspectives, beliefs, and values between herself and Torvald by

stating, “I only know that you and I look at it in quite a different light” (Ibsen 77). In addition,

Nora questions the morality of the law, setting foot on a new path where she will learn more

about herself and her personal convictions. At the same time, Nora abandons her duties as a wife

and mother, making her disloyal to her original duties. Furthermore, this quote revolves around
feminist theory as Nora questions the patriarchal laws set by their society, evident from her

disbelief that the law denies women the right to make decisions regarding their family members’

well-being and their own actions. In Antigone, the quote illustrates Antigone's loyalty to her

familial duty, and her determination to give a proper burial to Polynices demonstrates her

unwavering commitment to her personal convictions, even in the face of legal consequences. On

the contrary, in A Doll's House, Nora questions the morality of the law and embarks on a journey

of self-discovery and personal conviction. Both Antigone and Nora navigate the complexity of

human nature when personal beliefs conflict with laws and societal expectations. Their actions

imply that human nature encompasses a desire for justice and the pursuit of higher moral

principles. By challenging authority and defying norms, they suggest that blind obedience to the

law may not always align with human nature's deeper values and complexities. This supports the

idea that laws should not be inflexible but allow for interpretation and consideration of individual

experiences, morals, and convictions. This case is similar to the tragic incident of George Floyd,

as his unjust death by four officers garnered the community's attention to take action against

racism and excessive force by police officers. Since the law is above all else and police officers

are trained to enforce it, their actions are typically assumed to be correct and unarguable.

However, due to the complexity of human nature, witnessing George Floyd’s wrongful death

sparked protests and change through empathetic feelings. Therefore, having a sense of duty

effectively enforces necessary changes around laws. Complexities are bound to happen, thus

justifying the idea that laws should have room for interpretation.

In Antigone and A Doll's House, Antigone and Nora are powerfully depicted as characters

who defy authority, demonstrating the human nature to rebel against laws and social

expectations. For instance, in the play Antigone, Antigone defies Creon’s edict, leading her to be
brought into the presence of Creon. Creon faults Antigone’s naivety for taking advantage of her

social class and marriage with Creon’s son, Haemon, to which she responds,

Had I been a scullery maid washing my dishes when that law was read aloud to me,

I should have scrubbed the greasy water from my arms and gone out in my apron to bury

my brother…You are mistaken. Quite the contrary. I never doubted for an instant that you

would have put me to death. (Anouilh 42)

Not only does Antigone defy the initial edict set out by Creon, but she also defies the feminine

role. She rejects the traditional female gender role in feminist theory, displaying decisiveness

instead of submissiveness. Antigone also indicates she has an unwavering devotion to giving her

brother a proper burial, even if she were a scullery maid. This supports Marx’s first premise,

where Antigone’s social class wouldn’t have mattered in the subject of her brother’s burial. Her

defiance leads to a development in the plot, in which, despite Creon's chances of hopefully

saving her, she defies authoritarianism. Although she dies, she emphasizes the importance of

challenging these laws that don’t consider moral factors. Likewise, in A Doll’s House, Nora

illustrates the complexity of human nature through the initiative she takes to save her husband.

Nora takes out a loan with a forged signature, blatantly defying authority. When Ms. Linde

inquires about the loan Nora took out to save Torvald, Nora states,

I had meant to let him into the secret and beg him never to reveal it. But he was so ill

then—alas, there never was any need to tell him…A man who has such strong opinions

about these things! And besides, how painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald,

with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our

mutual relations altogether; our beautiful happy home would no longer be what it is now.

(Ibsen 15)
This quote is symbolized by the main premise of Jung's concept of the "shadow," as Nora

conceals undesirable aspects from Torvald due to his hubris. Nora's forging of a signature can

harm her family's reputation, foreshadowing potential unhappiness if Torvald discovers the truth.

Moreover, by assuming financial responsibilities traditionally assigned to men, Nora challenges

societal expectations and defies the authority of her husband and the restrictive laws. This

showcases her individuality and self-reliance, despite the negative connotations she may face. In

Antigone, Antigone's defiance challenges societal expectations and addresses broader moral

considerations, whereas, in A Doll’s House, Nora's defiance centers more on her individual

growth and independence. Both plays simultaneously highlight the defiance of their traditional

gender roles and laws, exploring the complexity of human nature by deviating from societal

expectations. This supports the idea that laws constrict the full expression of human potential and

limit the pursuit of justice and morals without considering the complexity of human nature.

Similarly, a movement called #MeToo took place on social media to raise awareness about the

severity of sexual harassment and assault against women, urging survivors to come forward to

share their experiences. When the offender isn’t caught by the justice system, it can be difficult

to speak out about their experiences, oftentimes requiring strength and courage to do so. This

movement challenges the laws surrounding sexual harassment and assault by highlighting

inadequate legal protections for victims. Therefore defiance of authority drives attention to

constraints, provoking a discussion on the necessity for laws to be open to interpretation. The

complexity of human nature drives to promote fairness, individual expression, and the pursuit of

justice.

Antigone and A Doll's House imply that the law should have room to be interpreted. As

human nature is so complex, laws must be reconsidered. The play's two main characters' loyalty
to duty and defiance of authority illustrate this effectively. These plays suggested that laws

should allow room for interpretation to accommodate diverse human experiences and promote

justice. Overall, it highlights the need to reconsider laws in light of human complexity and

supports the idea that blind obedience to the law may not always align with higher moral

principles. In today's world, we see numerous instances where people defy authority to advocate

for their rights and push for societal change, such as Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+.

However, as the complexities of human nature vary in modern-day society, how can we, as

individuals and as a society, challenge and reinterpret laws to better reflect the complexities of

human nature to promote justice and equality for all?

 Works Cited

Anouilh, Jean. Antigone. Bloomsbury Publishing, 1960.

Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll’s House. Lerner Publishing Group, 2014.