Comparing Homer's Odyssey And Sophocles Antigone

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The key to being an effective leader is being able to lead your men on and off the battle field. Being brilliant in warfare as well as being charming and persuasive when the moment presents itself. When you have something to offer people and people feel like having you as their leader will be an asset. Being a great leader according to Homer also means one who does not put family over state but one who sees the bigger picture and counts the greater cost in all situations. Both tragic hero’s from The Odyssey and Sophocles Antigone exhibit characteristics that will allow them to flourish as leaders but also end up being their biggest downfall.
Odysseus made it his mission to return his men home safely after the war. He went through many obstacles
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He believes that if people are loyal to him he appears strong and if he appears strong then the state appears strong and if the state appears strong he is less likely to get attacked. As a ruler Creon is insecure, desperate to assert his authority and to restore order in Thebes and he sees Polynices burial as a threat to that order because he committed treason against his own city. But by Creon denying his nephew’s a burial he struck a nerve in Antigone who thought she had no choice but to go against the law and bury Polynices herself, knowing the punishment was death by public stoning. That punishment seems a little extreme but Creon was concerned with remaining strong in a time of trouble being in the age of warlords where they were looking to trash each other’s villages at the first sign of weakness. He’s concerned about the laws that guide the state and very concerned about the principle of loyalty. Which is why when he found out Antigone was responsible for Polynices burial even though she was family she had to face the consequences. But instead of public stoning he places her in a cave where she kills herself even though at this point Creon has no idea this has happened. Creon’s inability to be flexible and listen to others resulted in all the family he had left being killed. All because he decided to yield and go back on his word when It was too late. Creon was unable to use his authority effectively and justly, he

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