Final answer:
Antigone and Creon's contrasting moral and social justifications in 'Antigone' are rooted in divine law and state sovereignty, respectively, leading to a tragic conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Sophocles' play Antigone, both Antigone and Creon showcase their moral and social justifications for their actions, which are deeply rooted in their personal beliefs and the pressures of their society. Antigone, driven by familial loyalty and divine law, defies Creon's edict out of respect for the gods and the unwritten laws that dictate a proper burial as an honor for the dead. She asserts that her actions were led by the 'law of conscience' and challenges the justice of Creon's decision by asking, 'What ordinance of heaven have I transgressed?' On the other hand, Creon takes a stance rooted in state sovereignty and social order, upholding his edict to showcase his authority and the consequences of betrayal, as seen when he declares that Polyneices should be left 'tombless and unwept' as a traitor to Thebes. Ultimately, their contrasting views on morality and justice result in a tragic conflict between divine will and human law.