Power has a negative effect on those who are in power. It has a negative effect, because it causes unnecessary harm. For example, many leaders throughout history have used their power to demonstrate absolute control. In Antigone, Creon used his power in a negative way. He used his power to demonstrate absolute control by making a punishment unfit for the crime. His power caused harm to his family, even though he was just trying to remain in power. Creon sentenced Antigone to death, because Creon said that he was a traitor. This also shows how Creon didn’t care how much it damaged his relationship with his family, or even his son, because he wanted to show his power. So, despite the damage it would have on his stance with his family, Creon
Negative power is power that is ran by fear. Power has a negative effect on others and the way Creon uses it is a perfect example of negative power. HItler used his power
In Antigone, King Creon had just taken the throne and he needed to portray someone who had the qualities to be king. King Creon said, “of course you cannot know a man completely, his character, his principles, sense of judgement, not till he’s shown his colors, ruling the people, making laws,” (Sophocles 2.194-197). Therefore, King Creon knew that he had to be harder on his family and on the people of Thebes to show his capability to be a ruler. He was so focused on being respected and accepted by the people that his actions turn him into a stubborn, arrogant and close minded individual.
He was a perfect example of a unfit ruler through the use of conflict and became a more proper ruler for the people of thebes. Creon was a selfish ruler who believed his rules were better than the rules of the gods and with that mindset the gods wanted to teach him a lesson by slowly killing everyone he loved. Once that happens he thinks about why all this pain has been brought upon him and he realizes and says “Lead me away. I Have been rash and foolish. I have killed my son and my wife.
Negative Effects of Power Controlling, unfair, unlawful are all words that describe someone that abuses power. This means that if you take advantage of having power, it will not have a good result on others. Power creates negativity by having harsh punishments and being unfair which results in exasperation of others. Power has a negative impact on others by having harsh punishments. Creon has harsh punishments on people when he had to “Arrest Ismene.
Creon thought that he could make an example of Antigone. Creon abused his powers. He thought that he could change or break the laws of the gods and not allow other people to break the laws. He didn’t want to
It wasn’t until the termination of the play that Creon had this change of heart. Initially, he submitted to his authority and sentenced Antigone to death for burying Polyneices against his commands. He then sends Antigone to a cave. When a blind prophet foretells that the gods would punish him for how he treated Polyneices and Antigone, he second-guesses himself and sends meant to free her but discovers that she has passed away: “My stubborn, deadly—Look at us, the killer, the killed, father and son, the same blood—the misery! My plans, my mad fanatic heart, my son cut off so young!”
In history and literature power can be abused by a strong leader. Power has a negative effect because King Creon abuses abuses his power for his needs and wants and is also unfair with his decisions and his rule. For example, Creon over uses his power to unfairly kill his niece Antigone. This was unfair because he is going to kill her for just wanting to give her brother a proper burial.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “It is reasonable that everyone who asks justice should do justice.” In the play Antigone by Sophocles, it contrasts many perspectives and definitions of justice. In the beginning, two brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, fight in a civil war for who reigns Thebes, but both have been killed. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, have honored Eteocles and disgraced Polyneices. He took the disgrace further and lawed that ever who buries polyneices will be executed.
Creon see Antigone as a person who is scheming against him for his crown because she bury Polyneices. Creon did not want to seem weak as the new king, and he wanted to make an example out of Antigone this is why Creon sent her to death. His family and the blind prophet warn Ceon of his actions, but he was too stubborn to care about the consequences of his actions. Creon explains and that Haemon should not care because that she is just a normal women now not even family when she bury Polynices. Creon say: “Do you want me to show myself weak before the people? /
He is the center of the play, which causes events to happen. The first tragic fall that leads Creon to his downfall is his power madness. His power madness fall can be supported by Antigone’s dialogue, “Further: he has the matter so it that anyone who dares attempt the act will die by stoning in the town.” (Antigone 2).
During this same conversation, Haemon argues that the people of Thebes themselves do not like the order for Antigone to die. King Creon quickly refutes that “[he is] king, and responsible only to [himself.]” King Creon believes that he only needs to worry about himself. This shows that King Creon did not realize his full responsibility as king, both to his family and his people. King Creon was too prideful, and did not realize that he must honor the dead, and that he cannot kill his own family for doing it for him. His pride leads to not only Antigone’s death, but also to those around him whom he loves, and eventually himself.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Power changes the way people act. Power has a negative effect on others because King Creon became a bad king and Hitler used it to lie and kill people. Power had a negative effect because Creon became a bad king. Creon won’t let Antigone bury her own brother.
People have many different reactions when given power. The reaction is usually either one where they use power for a greater good and to guide others in a better situation, or they can misuse the power given and take advantage of the circumstances or others to make themselves feel even more dominant and in command. In the play, Antigone by Sophocles one of the main characters , King Creon, abuses his power to take superiority of others and in an attempt to gain control. The misuse of power is more frequent than the use of power for the favorable, even in many current events.
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” - Lord Acton , this quote is especially true back in medieval times and before. With this quote this question comes up, does power have a negative or positive effect on others? To that, I say yes. Before I do start explaining why power has a positive effect I will admit that power can also bring a negative effects as well such as King Creon in play Antigone. Antigone at the time it was written was meant to represent the current time of the ancient greece.
Because Creon was the Kyrios he would always use his throne power against Antigone. Not only Kyrios in fact all the ideas and values above. “I will take her down some wild, desolate path never trod by men, and wall her up alive in a rocky vault, and set out shot rations, just measure piety demands to keep the entire city free of defilement”. This quote said by Creon in lines 870-874, shows how well Antigone and Creon’s relationship reflects the values and ideas