Creon And Haemon Leadership Analysis

What makes a leader effective? Making broad decisions can be a daunting task, but good leaders know to keep the best interests of their citizens prized above all else. When leaders divert from this vision is when they cause harm both to their reputation and to their people. In Antigone, the king of Thebes, Creon, orders Antigone to death after she disobeys his law. He decreed that the body of Antigone’s brother Polynices would not be buried, in opposition to the gods’ mandate regarding burial. Against the advice of many, in particular, his son Haemon, Creon persists with this order, believing that any modification of his decision would somehow diminish his authority. In this tragic play by Sophocles, Haemon and Creon’s approach to problem-solving provides a stark contrast in governing and philosophy and ultimately, leadership effectiveness. …show more content…
Creon’s leadership style can be described as authoritative. He is ruled by his own preconceived notions of how a man and leader should act. His ultimate fear as a leader is that people will disobey him and take his power: “Anarchy-- / show me a greater crime in all the earth! / She, she destroys cities, rips up houses” (751-753). His hatred of anarchy correlates with his heavily authoritarian rule. His immediate reaction when anyone disagrees with him is that they are trying to overthrow him as king, and even though he provides a strong image outwardly, it is clear that he does not feel very secure. Consequently, Creon rules with a heavy dose of anger. His primary tool is creating fear among his associates and his citizens, enough to prevent any of them from speaking up against him. While Creon views Thebes as a possession for himself, a good leader realizes that the kingdom should be run for the good of the