Antigone_Creons_Tragic_Flaws

Creon’s Tragic Flaws A noble king, who possessed very unadmirable qualities were he caused mass chaos throughout the entire city that led to his very own downfall. In this case, this is what happens to Creon in the play Antigone by Sophocles in the time of the Ancient Greeks. Creon has too many weaknesses in the play that made him a very ineffective leader. This is why Creon is a king for a remarkably short period of time. Creon’s unfavorable qualities were that he was feared by his inferiors, does not follow advice, and he is stubborn. First and foremost, one of Creon’s main traits that make him a poor leader is that he rules by fear over the people of Thebes. One example, of this is when the Sentry comes in and brings Creon the bad news of the perpetrator Creon says “You shall be raked and tortured till you tell/ the whole truth of this outrage; so you may learn.” Creon mentions that if the sentry does not find whoever has done this then he will be beaten to death and suffer the consequences. This is why they had to draw straws because they were all afraid of Creon. Moving on, another repeated example throughout the play was that the people of Thebes think that what Antigone did was very courageous and honorable. This is an example between Creon and Haemon: Creon “And was this woman’s action dishonorable” Haemon” The people of Thebes think not”(423). This quote is saying that the people of Thebes agree with Antigone but are too scared to confront Creon himself. Overall, ruling by fear is not the way to become and effective leader which Creon shows us. On the contrary, another quality of Creon that makes him an ineffective leader is that he does not follow advice. All the advice given in the story was given to help Creon but he just chooses to ignore the advice. One major example in this story is in the discussion between Creon and Haemon, Haemon says; “That sight I’ll never see. Nor from this hour /shall you see me again. Let those that will/ be witness of your wickedness and folly”(424). This quote is explaining if Creon sentences Antigone to death then Haemon will commit suicide but Creon does not believe that this will happen and ignores it. Moving on, another example is when Antigone tells Creon that he should not have created the law in the first place; “To overrule unwritten unalterable laws/ Of God and heaven you being only a man”(417). Antigone tells Creon that the gods rule will always be greater than any mans law therefore, the law should not have been created in the first place. Antigone is advising Creon to change his decision but he declines it. As a result, not following words of wisdom will come back at hurt you in the long run making an ineffective leader. Unquestionably, Creon is stubborn and by doing this, he makes it very difficult for him to succeed as being a king. Creon being stubborn effects his decision making throughout the entire play. One instance is between Creon and Teiresas; Creon “ You take me for target, revered sir,/ like all the rest. I know your art of old,”(428). Creon is so stubborn that he does not believe what Teiresias is saying and thinks that Teiresias is playing a trick on him. Nerveless, Creon shows numerous examples of being stubborn like; “ The people of Thebes!/ Since when do I take my orders from the people of Thebes'”(423). Creon posses an extreme amount of stubbornness that he does not care what the people of Thebes think. Nowadays the USA is ruled by the people for the people. Creon is very stubborn which led to many awful decisions that made him a very ineffective leader. In the play Creon has numerous flaw and these are just three of them ruling by fear, not following advice, and being stubborn. There are also many morals throughout the play just one was in a dictatorship “Absolute power, corrupts absolutely” which is why Creon is an ineffective leader.. This play shows us what not to do in our day-to-day lives. Creon has many flaws making throughout the play that make him and one of the worst leader Thebes has ever had.