Leadership In Sophocles Antigone

Leaders are powerful people who prove their ability to assist others. Throughout the years, humanity attempts to have an upright, yet rigorous, rule. Great leaders have induced goals that represent the needs of both the leader and their people. In Antigone, a play written by Sophocles, the examination of the legitimacy of Creon’s rule, shows that Creon is not an effective leader through his inability to listen to his people, his rule through fear, and incapacity to support his family or people.

Creon is a poor leader, considering his disregard towards his people’s advice. After Creon orders the death of Antigone, Haemon comes to his father to persuade him to change his decisions, Haemon declares, “[Thebes] takes order from one voice”, conveying

Ismene asks Creon if he was going to “steal this girl from [his] son”, conveying that he does not care for his family (Scene II). His son’s happiness is not on his mind, meaning neither is the people’s happiness. Creon cannot care for his family, therefore, the people he is to keep safe and content, would not be cared for. When Creon is confronted with the death of Polyneices, Creon advocates that he does not “expect completely loyalty from his subjects”, showing that he does not believe in his own people (Scene I). Creon has no faith in his family or his people, and it displays that he is unable to truly rule for anyone other than himself. Creon also questions his son, asking “is this an open threat”, conveying his inability to trust anyone other than himself (Scene III). He believes his son would threaten him and not help or side with him. His inability to confide in others, who only yearn to aid him in his rule, makes him an inadequate

The Chorus states that when Creon finally admits to his wrong doings, it is, “late in learning [his lesson]”, conveying Creon’s stubbornness lead to his downfall (Exodos). The Chorus also states that his final action of mortality is “right in so much wrong”, conveying that his trifling and futile attempt to fix his problem did not help in the mass of wrongdoing (Exodus). Creon has done so much wrong that it does not help that he has tried to right them. Creon many mistakes, and his inability to learn from them with his people’s advice further advocates his wrongdoings and inadequate leadership. Creon, the king in Antigone, a play written by Sophocles, is a poor leader. His inept leadership is shown through Creon’s inability to listen to his people, his rule over his people through fear, and his opposition towards supporting his people. Creon learns his greatest lesson, with a terrible price, that his hubris, pride, ruined him, as a result of his inability to seek advice and adjust to his