Colton James Spurlock
Mrs. Young
Composition 2
10/1/2013
Concepts of Free Will: A Look at the Principles of Stance Applied to Antigone
Isaac Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal opposite reaction. When decisions are made solely based off of free will and neglect external pressures the reactions and repercussions are of extreme magnitude. Stace’s external forces of free will are thrust upon Antigone most severely during her quarrel with Creon and during her death from her own hand; Ismene also has similar external forces thrust upon her, when she is questioned by Creon regarding her involvement with her sister’s affairs, yet responds in a different manner than Antigone.
Antigone’s free will choice, made against the external force of human law when she defies Creon. The decision to bury Pholynices was made with complete disregard to the laws of the land. When Creon, questions Antigone, he first asks if “she was aware of the public notice?” The legal authority which put in place the regulations that inhibited Antigone’s actions first want to make sure that understood the law. Creon wanted to verify that Antigone’s actions were that of utter defiance. Antigone answers that her actions were in fact done in complete defiance, “…how could I not it’s public knowledge.”[Antigone] Antigone’s answer to Creon’s chance for penance, show’s that her decision was hers, and hers alone; made in complete disregard to Stace’s principal of the external force of human law.
Strongest external force is that of nature. Biologically animals other than man, will not take their own life. This is why it can be said, that man is the only creature with free will because man is given this morbid ability to claim his own life. Antigone makes this decision based on the most selfish type of free will, that which is clearly unadulterated. She does not hesitate to think of the repercussions her actions will have. She utterly neglects the idea that her decision has the power to insure utter carnage, which is actually what takes place after. The chorus supports the conjecture that Antigone died of her own free will, when it sang out “…Hence, you die because of your own selfish will.” [Antigone] The extreme reaction that was suspected to occur following decisions based solely off of free will did in fact in sue and reaches the tragic climax when Eurydice, proceeds to retire into her lavender scent filled room and takes her own life with her knitting needle [Antigone]. This tragic sequence of events, perfectly describes the characteristics of free will, Antigone’s choices based off of Stace’s principals, was made completely by free will.
Often times the noises from the external forces which push one to make decisions not based on one’s own free will are unable, or extremely difficult to be cancelled out. These types of forces are usually those of unexpected times of intense emotion. Ismene is faced with one of these intense emotional forces when Creon questions her involvement in Antigone’s trespasses. Unable to ignore the intense emotion she felt for her sister’s life, she lies about her involvement and states that “I did it, I admit, and she will back me up, so I bear the guilt as well.”[Antigone] Knowing that she did not make the decision to bury Pholynices through her own free will, by cancelling out the external force of the law of man, Antigone turns from her sister in disgust and retorts “…No no, justice will not let you say that.” Ismene was merely victim to Stace’s principal, that intense moments of emotion can be a very formidable external force to overcome in order to make a decision based on free will. Stance uses the metaphor that such forces are similar to an instance when one is held at gunpoint and asked for their wallet. [Stace] The decision is not one made on free will, because of the intense emotion of fear. This overwhelming sense of fear is the reason why one hands over their wallet, not because based on free will one decided that they would hand it over.
Often times, the metaphorical noises generated by the external forces which attempt to guide and build our decisions (taking away our free will) are able to be quieted out; however, sometimes that is not the case. Antigone has an candid ability to silence the noise of the external forces which she faces, and is able to make her decisions solely based off of Stace’s definition of free will, regardless of the consequences which may in sue as a result form her decisions. Ismene, does not have this ability, she is a victim to the noise of the external forces around her, which at times over-whelm her and in response she is unable to practice her own free will, instead her decisions are based off of the choices which the external forces decide are best. Therefore, in conclusion, when decisions are made solely based off of free will and neglect external pressures the reactions and repercussions are of extreme magnitude.

Works Cited:
Sophocles. Antigone. https://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/sophocles/antigone.htm. May 2005.Web. 10/7/2013
Stace, Walter T. “Is Determinism Inconsistent with free will?”.Current issues enduring questions.eds.barnet and bedau. Boston:Bedford/st.Martin,2011.924-31.print