Lack Of Power In Antigone

It is often supposed that Antigone’s actions cause a political change in the government; Creon will become a new and improved leader after the tragedies he had to suffer through. While some may argue that Antigone’s actions cause a political change in the government, ultimately there is no revolution because the leader never changes. After seeing his wife dead, Creon says, “I killed her, I can own no alibi: The guilt is wholly mine” (Sophocles 28). This quote shows how guilty Creon feels about the deaths of his family members as he feels that he caused their deaths. Many may say that because of his guilt, Creon will now become a new and improved leader, which is a political change relating to a revolution. While it is true that Creon may

Written by the Greek writer Sophocles, the play Antigone continues to touch audiences around the world with themes that are relevant to this day. In the play, Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, and his wife Jocasta, is confronted with conflict as both of her brothers had slain each other after Polynices was exiled from Thebes, then marched back to regain his throne. Creon, the now ruler of Thebes, put forth a declaration stating that only Eteocles was to be buried, while Polynices had been barred from burial as he was considered a traitor. During the play, Antigone fights back and forth on her decision of putting the unwritten law of the gods before the law posted Creon. Two important themes that are showcased throughout the story

Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of social, political, and economic equality to men. Feminism plays a major role in hundreds of cultures, as it raises consideration to civil freedoms of women across the globe. Feminists generally seek to bring about change by fighting for what they believe in, and are often considered to have personal strength and integrity. In the play Antigone written by the Greek playwright Sophocles, the main character Antigone is a symbol of feminism revolt. She is nowhere near as radical as other the feminist characters of her time, however, Antigone does puts her life on expense, trying to stand up to the patriarchal society in which she was confined. The reader can see the man

Power, a tool, a quality, an influence over others, in other words, a sense of control. In relation to this, those that are given or even earned a great amount of power should use it moderately. In the world we live in today, many “leaders” use their power negatively, resulting in unfairness to others.

As humans when we have power we find ourselves using it to better ourselves. We take power of granted or use it for our advantage. Some people would say it’s “Human nature.” Power is when you have authority or control over things. Many times when power is given to the wrong person things are ruined. This is because when people have power they think about what they want and not about other people's opinion. Frequently people with power think they are better than everyone else and always know what's right. There are many times in history when power influenced or created destruction. Innocent people can be manipulated by authorities and forced into doing something that they have no desire doing. This is common pattern in history. For example Hitler was given power and created a government that killed more than 6 million innocent people. This was a prime example that when power is given to the wrong person destruction is the product. In his novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury shows that when power is given to the wrong people, destruction is often the outcome. After there is destruction, you have to build up from what you have left.

In Ancient Greece, as the government turns to democracy, an important political debate arises between two crucial topics, authority and family. If a leader, for example, creates a law to restrict his or her people, but a member of the leader’s family breaks the law, he or she must decide where loyalties lie. Sophocles enters this debate in his play Antigone when Antigone, Creon’s son’s fiancée, breaks a heavily enforced but possibly immoral law. Although Sophocles emphasizes the importance of authority, Antigone illustrates that family is held in higher regard, exhibited through Creon’s tragic downfall.

In the drama Antigone, Sophocles considers the source of authority and power in society. When King Creon makes a law that forbids the burial of Antigone's brother, Polynices, she ignores the king’s authority, risks her life, and buries her brother out of loyalty to the gods. The situation leads to a conflict among the people of Thebes, Antigone, and Haemon. They must decide where their loyalty lies, and whose authority should take precedence, that of the king or that of the gods. While a number of views about the role of authority and power are expressed through characters such as Creon, Antigone, and Haemon, the drama seems to support the view that authority does not rest only with one person.

Power is extremely difficult to achieve in a large way. Power can be earned by a position or ranking in a group. "There should be choices I want to wake up in the morning to decide things.”(97)Power can also be lost or taken by doing something wrong. "Steer clear of an occasion governed by a rule which is so easy to break."(34) If someone has power then people will either fear or obey the amount of power that person has. This can make people who dislike that person cause she or he to lose power. If power is lost that person may not have any input on a large agreement between a specific person or a group of people. Once a person is powerless they can't change or accept something new to themselves.

The abuse of power is a rampant problem in our world today and has plagued society since the dawn of government. In Antigone by Sophocles, this issue is a prominent theme. One of the main characters, Creon, rules over the people of Thebes, but does so selfishly and unjustly. These same actions can be seen in our modern world by those in authority. Creon’s abuse of power is reflected in today’s governments through law-making, punishments, and the removal of opposing perspectives.

Power is like a virus, once it gets to one’s head, they’re corrupt. In Sophocles’ Antigone, both of Antigone’s brothers killed each other at war for the throne of Thebes. Creon, the new king, only honors and buries one, Eteocles. Creon bans anyone from burying the other brother, Polyneices but Antigone decides that she will in order to honor her brother. Creon gives two speeches, one about how he’s going to rule and how he forbids anyone from burying Polyneices, and another about bribery and how money corrupts people. He says that money is the reason someone has betrayed him by burying Polyneices. In Antigone, Sophocles uses the characterization of Creon to reveal the negative effects in the development of power.

“The first thing you must realise is that power is collective. The individual only has power in so far as he ceases to be an individual.” (Orwell).

Power is a negative concept that turns people against each other if power is used in a wrong way.

Taking control of people,making yourself benefit, forcing yourself to the top, when power gets into the wrong hands none is safe. The more power someone gets, the more likely it will corrupt them. Power is mainly used in selfish and negative ways.

The way a society is run and how things are enforced also can cause negative feelings towards power. It can cause many to rebel if they feel that a leader has too much control, and it can also make people covet and desire such strength leaders have. In Julius Caesar, Cassius

Power can have the persuasive action in undoing the moral ethics of one’s character. This can be seen throughout history, such as World War II and proven by the actions of Napoleon in the allegory, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. As Lord Acton said “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In history what was viewed as a villain or wrong doer is never the same as the perception. A leader does not begin wanting to do wrong, they start with the best intentions, but power is a tricky thing, showcased in Animal Farm as Utopian ideals but with failed practices.