Power has the ability to corrupt, and blind those influenced by it. It has the potential to control the path of nations, whether the consequence is beneficial or detrimental to the fate of the society. Power gives confidence to those it possesses and magnifies the characteristics of its beholder. The theme of power is seen throughout Sophocles’ Antigone, through the character analysis of the play’s tragic hero, Creon. Creon is the play’s tragic hero due to the extreme loss, which is caused by his own excessive pride. Power magnifies Creon’s pride and allows him to be blinded by it. He is unable to see how his prideful decisions are not only hurting his loved ones but will eventually destroy him.
At the beginning of Antigone, Creon is the newly …show more content…
“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely’ said the British historian Lord Acton (Keltner, 2007).” This fully explains how Creon has allowed himself to place such a harsh punishment for an action made with the greater good in mind. Antigone buried her brother in accordance with the will of the gods. Creon is so corrupt that he can not see that, but instead believes that his will, no matter how inconsiderate it may be, is law without any regard for Antigone’s …show more content…
The prideful choices he made were caused by the power he had. “History has shown that possessing a great deal of power does not necessarily make someone a good leader ( Plunkett Tost, Leigh, 2011).” This is very true in Creon’s case. Creon has received so much power from his position, and we associate power with leadership, and leadership with a good leader. This is the opposite of Creon. Creon was so intoxicated with the power he was unable to see past it. The power enhanced his pride. Now he is a man with the most power in Thebes but is too blinded by it to see that his pride to see that it is hurting everyone around him. All of this is brought round circle when everyone Creon loves and cares about dies. It is representative of the theme of Antigone, power, in the way that Creon made a life-changing decision out of pride enhanced by power. This power allowed him to be blind to the townspeople, of Thebes, and even to his own son. In the end, Creon is an amazing example of the control power can hold over an individual, and the detrimental effects it can cause over the life of not only its’ beholder but of those around
At the beginning of Antigone, Creon is the newly …show more content…
“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely’ said the British historian Lord Acton (Keltner, 2007).” This fully explains how Creon has allowed himself to place such a harsh punishment for an action made with the greater good in mind. Antigone buried her brother in accordance with the will of the gods. Creon is so corrupt that he can not see that, but instead believes that his will, no matter how inconsiderate it may be, is law without any regard for Antigone’s …show more content…
The prideful choices he made were caused by the power he had. “History has shown that possessing a great deal of power does not necessarily make someone a good leader ( Plunkett Tost, Leigh, 2011).” This is very true in Creon’s case. Creon has received so much power from his position, and we associate power with leadership, and leadership with a good leader. This is the opposite of Creon. Creon was so intoxicated with the power he was unable to see past it. The power enhanced his pride. Now he is a man with the most power in Thebes but is too blinded by it to see that his pride to see that it is hurting everyone around him. All of this is brought round circle when everyone Creon loves and cares about dies. It is representative of the theme of Antigone, power, in the way that Creon made a life-changing decision out of pride enhanced by power. This power allowed him to be blind to the townspeople, of Thebes, and even to his own son. In the end, Creon is an amazing example of the control power can hold over an individual, and the detrimental effects it can cause over the life of not only its’ beholder but of those around