Creon Speech In Antigone

Cruelty well employed basically asserts that a king should appear as a cruel figure in order to command respect and obedience from his people. However, he cannot appear to be too harsh before his citizens because he may lose their support. 4. In a sense there is a democratic lesson to Machiavelli’s discussion of civil princedom. He explains in Chapter Nine that it is a Princes best interest to seek support of the common people not only because he can then rise to power with his own accord with a mass of people ready to obey his law, but also because if he lost support of them they would have a more difficult time overthrowing him than the Nobles.

Now, as the new King, I also must try to regain the trust of my people. It won’t be easy for them to trust another king as the one previously terrorized our kingdom. I’ll just have to try my best to prove to the people that I’m here for the good and to protect us all. My father was a gentleman. He delivered jewelry to Lady Macbeth as a sincere gesture of gratitude.

Teiresias is a very well-respected guy in the Thebes and has been helping generations and generations of kings. He has never been proven wrong on a prophecy. Teiresias visits Creon to tell him about a prophecy saying that he should bury Polyneices and release Antigone or terrible things will happen to him. Teiresias says,”Must I reveal my yet unspoken mind?” Then, Creon says,”Reveal all; but expect no gain from it”(533). This explains how stubborn Creon is and that no matter what Teiresias says he will not change his opinion.

Many people today may not agree with the government and their decisions at all times, however, Jefferson made it clear that looking out for the safety of citizens should be the number one priority of any group of government officials. “...as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness” (113). Now, in my personal belief, I feel as though it could benefit the United States Government to sometimes take a look at this declaration and take into account the truths that it holds and the words that speak to U.S. citizens. “People shouldn’t be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people” (Moore).

There was a contingent that wanted to make him King after the war. He refused the Crown and retired from the military to make sure that the political power will be in the hands of the civilian government (Rees, 2007). This decision showed effective use of intellectual autonomy by thinking for himself and not following popular opinion that he should be a King, and intellectual integrity by staying true to his own thinking in the belief that the power should be in the hands of the people. These examples also displayed his ethical leadership. When Washington surrendered power, he followed the Revolutionary principles avoiding the ethical trap of Drive for Success which, is “putting your own ambition ahead of rules, regulations and codes of conduct (BCEE, 2017d, p. 8).

A great way to start a speech is gain the trust and faith of your audience as the President. For us to side with you, one must show confidence, which his words had right from the beginning. Confidence was reflected, when he mentioned that, “when the dictators are ready to make war upon us, they will not wait for an act of war on our part... they – not we – will choose the time and the places and the method of their attack (FDR State of the Union Address, 1942).” Telling us, he knows what he is doing and we can install our faith and trust with him as the leader of our country. Given that he spoke for the American people, he implies that as a nation, we have had to make some difficult choices, but, yet we make those decisions with courage and determination that keeps us united. This is one of the many points that highlights his speech.

In Sophocles' Antigone, Creon falls into power due to a chain of events that aren’t caused by him, but by the crime Oedipus has committed. However, Creon decrees the law denying Polynices's burial to re-establish law and order in Thebes, and to establish himself as the new King of Thebes. In Creon's mind, since Polynices attacks Thebes, he is only a traitor to the state and does not deserve burial, whereas, Eteocles deserves it because of his defense of the country. This is Creon’s fatal flaw which causes the tragedy. Creon’s decision to keep his cousin from his natural birthright disobeys God’s will and goes against God’s rules.

The main theme that connects all four sources is change, especially as it relates to revolutions and government. Change in the government should be brought about by the people and put into effect by the people. As Abraham Lincoln said in his famous Gettysburg Address, ruling bodies should be “of the people, by the people, for the people”. This means that people in positions of power should not abuse that power. This matters because these people have a great responsibility to the people of their nation, and if the leader(s) are not careful, respectful, and responsible with their power, then Source C argues that “All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, to government, when its tyranny of its inefficiency are great and unendurable”.

As Creon is being introduced to the chorus he states that he will not bury Polynices, and he has brainwashed his court of public opinion so much they add to his overweening pride by saying “Your will is law” (132 Sophocles). He tells the public what he says is what goes. This is incredibly arrogant even as a king, but they continue to feed to him his hubirs. Michael Clayton considers himself a fixer or janitor. Early on His job is to fix and clean up anything and everything.

Soothsayer The soothsayer is a fortuneteller and he tells Caesar to beware of March 15 ”Beware of March 15” Loyalty to Caesar Brutus Brutus was first loyal to Caesar but then he is convinced that Caesar is abusing his power so he helps kill Caesar. “The only way is to kill Caesar I have no personal reason to strike at him only the best interest of people. He wants to be crowned.” Brutus showed the greatest amount of loyalty to his country. He killed a friend for what he thought would be a better Rome. He was loyal to his country but not to his friend.