Free Antigone Essays: Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely :: Antigone essays

Absolute Power Corrupts unquestioningly in Antigone                   Power corrupts, and absolute queen corrupts absolutely, said Lord Acton generations ago. In the Greek tragedy Antigone, written by Sophocles, there was a type named Kreon, the antagonist, who was the king of Thebes. Thebes was an autocratic state where Kreon had absolute power. Throughout the course of the play, Kreon do by his privilege of absolute power and this caused him to suffer greatly, even though he was warned by a few people of his bad deeds. What Sophocles commented on absolute power was that one should not abuse it. If it was abused, he or she had to call for bad consequences. This was indicated by what happened to Kreon when he abused his power.  Kreon settled a orderliness that prohibited anyone from burying Polyneices dead body. He was proud of his decree, and he alike stated that he would be a good king by listening to w hat people said regarding his decisions. When the decree was broken by Antigone, Kreon sentenced her to death. This fire the gods because they precious the dead body of Polyneices buried, and they did not want a exit body (that of Antigone) buried in a cave. Kreon was told by Haimon to change his mind, exclusively Kreon rejected his request and went ahead and buried Antigone alive. Teiresias warned Kreon that the gods were angry and his actions were to be blamed. Kreon rejected both Haimons request and Teiresias warning, and as a result, he suffered in the end. In the beginning of the play, Antigone and Ismene were found arguing about whether Polyneices body should be buried. Antigone wanted to bury her brothers body, tho Ismene objected because she said that they should not disobey Kreon, who had absolute power and had prohibited Polyneices burial (26-80). Ismene indicated that the citizens of Thebes did not dare to go against what Kreon decreed. They all knew that if they obje cted to Kreon, punishment would be the result. In the play, Kreon was first found addressing the senate as to how a principle should rule his state. He said in his long speech, I believe that he who rules in a state and fails to embrace the best mens counsels, but stays locked in silence and vague fear, is the worst man there. I have long believed so (217-221). To impress the senate Kreon told them that he would listen to any advice they gave him because that was what a good ruler should do.