Antigone is contrasted with her sister Ismene in terms of disrespect or respect for the laws of the land. Theban King Creon issues a decree that approves the burial of the loyal Theban dead from the recent armed struggle against the invaders from Argos and their Theban collaborators. At the same time, the decree demands the non-burial of the disloyal Theban dead. This decree directly contradicts the god-given justice, rites, rituals and traditions of Theban society.
In such a situation, Ismene cares only to be in good standing with Creon, her uncle and her king; and in compliance with the law. She cares nothing about the disrespect to her brother, Polyneices, who is among the disloyal Theban dead.
In contrast, Antigone cares about her standing with the gods, particularly the god of the underworld. She argues that she will spend much more of her time in the world of the dead than in that of the living. She wants to be treated with respect when she dies, and to be accepted by her loved ones as having carried out the proper funerary procedures at their deaths.