Explore the Theme of Kingship and Ruling in Sophocles’ Antigone.

In Sophocles Antigone, the earshot familiaritys a catharsis wherein sympathy and attention is evoked for Creon, a sad hero whose world powership was spoilt by corruption, gentleman f tout ensembleibility and pride. Throughout the play, Creon has demonstrated how correct rulers with a strong moral stance can still separate in their attempts to do good, unfortunately due to exceeding the limits of their humanity. To begin, the tragedy that befalls Creon as a man devoted to his country and to his religion seems to feel undeserved.Creon declares whoever places a friend above the good of his own country, he is nothing as an expression of his loyalty to his State the hammy ele manpowert is accentuated through the marge nothing which reverberates take the script in an echo that demands the viewers reverence and attention. In this port, Creons stance on drawing cardship is big(a) because Creon no longer works on the vow of his familys call for but on the order of the Gods and his call down.To highlight this, we see the chorus outshout the king of the utter is coming whatever the gods are s remnant straight / what new plan will he launch The significance of this realm is fork outed as something divine yet disconnected from humanity, so as to highlight Creon as merely a servant to the Gods. In this sense, Creon is a character that is empathized with for his respect towards the Gods, thus his actions can be attributed to the will of the Gods. scarce when did you last see the gods celebrating double-dealers? Inconceivable exclaims Creon, whose actions are characterised by a piety modeled after their will. A modern audience will interpret the duty of the King to come as a direct order from the Gods, thitherfore whatever law Creon enacts, and whatever cause he chooses to pursue, would pose been the Gods law. The interrogative thus arises was Creons tragedy truly of his own doing? The empowerment of the King diminishes when put into perspective with the Gods, and the audience can view how withal a man of superior rank can still be thwarted by the almighty powers of God.This, as a result, can fortify a feeling of forethought, or caution for those watching. However, one straits seems to question the purity of his intentions Am I to rule this land for othersor myself? Although, contextually harangue, this question was meant to demonstrate his loyalty to the state, it does include dark, subtle undertones that could reveal Creons hidden intention. The hyphen in the ending of the question or myself? seems to prevent the response and give a slight hesitance to Creons speech.The question stands does Creon make decision because he believes it is best for his country? Or does he rule because the influence of power has enabled him to act upon his own bias? Creons kingship creates an extension of itself with Haemon, whose flesh and business describes how profoundly connected Haemon is to his father. The tie amidst Creon and Haem on explores how kingship challenges both the emotional and human relationship between father and intelligence. possibly he invests so very much of himself into the idea of father and son, the same fund that a part of him equally dies with his son.Haemon has been included into Creons life as an indispensable structure, a piece inseparable piece from the framework of Creon himself. In fact, Creon cries to the harbor of Death asking why me? why are you putting to death me? , thereby portraying how the blood link that connects both father and son is interwoven in their lives so that one life is married to the other. Creon describes himself as a shattered man after the death of his son, thereby enlightening his vulnerability as a flawed human being.As such, the audience, witnessing his fall, can experience a heightened catharsis knowing a man of such conquest can crumple so easily and in such a wretched fashion. It is implied that Creon himself has the power to shape Haemons desti ny and his duty as a individual by producing good sonsa household rich of them, dutiful and attentive. Creon describes his son to be bred and reared for a specific purpose. two terms produce and bred create the effect of a human fictional at certain specifications.This puts Creon in a state of authority not only over the to a greater extents his son must live by, but the way his son is formed as a human being, which is eerily resounding of the divine authorities and the power of the unavoidablenesss to write out a persons destiny. In a sense, Creon compares the greatness of his sovereignty to that of the Gods, thus portraying how his power is a prerequisite to his hubris. Moreover, Creon establishes dominance over other men using his title as King, naturally elevating him beyond the rank of death same(p) men.To demonstrate his frightening autocracy, Antigone claims that the chorus would praise me too/ if their lips werent locked in caution. This fear of Creon is further bols tered by powerful oratory, which Creon uses as a implement in commanding his peoples patriotism and emotions. The expressive optic imagery characterized of Creons speech can turn a traitor into a fiend who thirsted to drink his kinsmens blood. The impact of the words thirsted and blood stress this graphic image of death and blight, which Creon manipulates to kindle hate and temper in his people against Creons enemies.Although a ruler is meant to serve the state and protect it, Creon uses his rhetoric to advance his own beliefsa decision characterized by greed. What is debatable about where Creons sense of leadership is whether he is doing this as an act of greed or an act of what he believes is correct for the state. jumper lead on from power, the audience understands that Creons arrogance comes from the notion that his power ennobles him beyond the ranks of mere humanity. They see him gain much more authority as a saint, savior or being closely linked to God.His sentries all a ddress him as My lord and Creon is able to issue death sentences to fortify his superiority. Creon uses terms that are definitive of a persons fate, disrespect the fact that he has no control over their fate in any substantial way Not a word of acceptyour doom is sealed. The precise diction of doom recalls the notion of a disgusting fate that stretches beyond the mere human life, and forwards into the dark softness of afterlife. To pronounce it as sealed is to imply it is fixed Creon uses this to strike fear in the heart of Antigone, yet it also presupposes that our fates, once written, are unchangeable.The dramatic irony that comes with Creon proclaiming this as his fate is being written heightens the tragic ending of the playthe Katastasis. Creons arrogance could be seen as a stimulate in character from what the audience knows of Creon in Sophocles Oedipus the King. Creon once proclaimed, if you think crude, blank stubbornness such a gift, youve lost your sense of balance a s a display of humility and rationality. Before his reign as King of Thebes, Creon understood the natural traits found in a good leader involved a sense of poise and understanding of ones own limits.Yet, once he had possessed the throne and all its powers, there was a change in character. All its powers incorporates the idea of excess and abundance, which is characterised as hubris, therefore the audience might feel a sense of fear for the upcoming and inevitable demise that may come for Creon. Naturally, when this power is questioned, Creons insecurities begin to appear and after some time, become more say and irrational. Creon expresses his shame and his exasperation of Antigones defiance through the terms laughing, / irritating us to our face with what shed done.These words hint to a sense of stigma that comes with a woman defying the rules set out for her by the authorities that govern her. Drawing from the cultural context of Sophocles play, women were mainly viewed as inferi or beingsoften they were weak or even dangerous, which makes the defiance against the state and Creons edict more grave and scandalous. Creon portrays his fear of being debased by a woman through his cry I am not the man, not now she is the man / if this victory goes to her and she goes free. / Never because essentially, her immunity would mean his defeat, which in the end would blemish, or even completely fracture, his tallness as an omnipotent ruler. Moreover, Creon becomes erratic as he is faced with his flaws as a human being. When he is first notified of his errors by a talent scout Oh its terrible when the one who does the judging / judges things all defective, he retaliates in a unnecessarily cruel manner you expert be clever about your judgments / youll swear your dirty money brought you pain. Personally, his rigorousness can be interpreted as a defensive irritate inflicted to shield himself from the truth of his humanity. This interpretation is supported by the wa y Creon storms off by turning sharply, as his actions seem to portray a sense of flinching (characterized by sharply) annoyance. This same effect is particularly seen in Creons dialogue with Tiresias after he is told of his fate. Creons language becomes more infused with anger and insecurity, making him appear weaker you shoot your arrows at my head like archers at the target He seems to refute his own guilt, and justify imself as a person of superiority are you aware youre speaking to the king? , which makes him appear untouchable. Creons spite is felt through his sharp intonation of Spit it out and lust for injustice His reaction to his fate up until his concession is characterized by defensiveness and verbal insults, which can highlight how much of his power and glory he is afraid of losing, Creon becomes frightened by the fortune wherein he would have to concede to his tragic flaw and undeniable fallibility as a human.The main purpose of these effects is to illuminate Creons very human flaws his insecurities, his paranoia of being thwarted by a woman of lesser importance, and his refractory temper. These flaws consequently form the nature of his demise and conclude the circle of his jaunt as the Tragic Hero. Essentially, his kingship has brought upon him his downfall because power is inseparable from vanity, and vanity became the hamartia of the Creons character.