Being a Good Citizen Essay - 960 Words

Does good citizenship necessitate following the laws despite some kind of injustice within them? Are good citizens obliged to blindly follow the government policies? It follows then, what is good citizenship? Henry David Thoreau provides an adequate definition of good citizenship within his essay, Civil Disobedience; Thoreau discusses certain characteristics of a good citizen. Examples of Thoreaus definition exist in both the ancient and contemporary culture. Sophocles describes Antigone as a good citizen by Thoreaus definition. Within the play, Antigone, Sophocles utilizes the character of Antigone to epitomize the proper role of citizens within a society. Currently in India, economic growth has given rise to the need for good citizens†¦show more content†¦44). Good citizens transcend the knowledge attained from the Bible and the Constitution and seek the nature of the values found within both texts. These citizens will then assimilate these teachings into his lifestyle, so as to uphold the raw, uncensored ideals of the Bible and the Constitution, and contest those who violate these principles. The character of Antigone exemplifies good citizenship within the play Antigone, by Sophocles. Antigone struggles against the government in order to achieve what she believes to be justice and fully accepts all the responsibilities in fulfilling said justice. Antigones states that Kreons decree had strength enough Â… to violate the lawful traditions the gods have not written merely, but made infallible (Sophocles lines 555-58). Antigone accuses Kreon of placing his own laws above the natural, infallible laws of the gods. She openly demonstrates against Kreons unjust law by burying her brother, Polyneices, despite the punishments due to that crime. Similar to the characteristics found within Thoreaus essay, Antigone accepts the consequences of breaking a law in an attempt to resolve an injustice. Although death is the due punishment for burying the Kreon-dubb ed traitor, Polyneices, Antigone proceeds not intimidated because she acknowledges the inevitability ofShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Integrity For A Business Means Being A Good Corporate Citizen1170 Words   |  5 Pagesof an entrepreneur is integrity. Integrity plays into how others perceive you. Companies or individuals that display organic integrity attract respect and consumer loyalty (Forbat, pg 23, 2007). Integrity for a business means being a good corporate citizen. A company with good corporate citizenship has a strong set of ethics and is socially conscious. 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