Final answer:
Antigone and Ismene argue at the start of the play because Antigone wants to bury their brother Polyneices, defying Creon's edict. Ismene is concerned about the consequences of going against the king's orders. The argument reflects the play's theme of conflict between divine law and state law.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasons for the Argument between Antigone and Ismene
At the beginning of Sophocles' play Antigone, the sisters Antigone and Ismene argue over a moral and legal dilemma. This dispute arises out of Antigone's desire to bury their brother Polyneices, against the edict set by Creon, the ruler of Thebes. Creon has decreed that Polyneices, who attacked the city, should not be given a proper burial, whereas their other brother Eteocles, who defended the city, has been honored with funeral rites.
Antigone feels a deep moral obligation to perform the burial rites for Polyneices, believing in the eternal and unwritten laws of the gods that require respect for the dead. Ismene, on the other hand, is more pragmatic and fears the mortal punishment that defying Creon's edict might bring. This conflict between divine law and state law is the core of their argument. Antigone resolutely insists on following the divine commands, despite the personal risks, while Ismene is reluctant to challenge the orders of the king, highlighting the contrast between the characters' principles and their perspectives on duty and bravery.
Throughout the argument, the theme of familial loyalty comes into play as well, with Antigone feeling that it is her duty to honor her family by ensuring her brother receives the funeral rites he deserves. The argument encapsulates the broader tensions of the play around authorities, moral law versus man-made law, and the individual versus the state.