Sophocles Antigone's Rule

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Antigone’s Rule Sophocles’ Antigone is one of the most famous plays of all time, and has been debated upon for centuries. One of the most interesting topics within these debates is the idea that Antigone may have been a better ruler than Creon. However, this is not true. Antigone’s personality and inherent nature would have prevented her from ever being a successful ruler of Thebes. She is fiercely independent and passionate about her family and getting justice for her brother. While these may be good qualities as a person, being a good person does not lead to being a good ruler. Antigone is ultimately too stubborn, emotional, young, and inexperienced to be queen. These qualities not only lead to her own downfall, but that of those around her. …show more content…

These emotion cloud her judgement and are the reason she decided to bury Polyneices, even though she knew the consequences. She even tells Ismene, “I shall be a criminal- but a religious one” (Sophocles 164), which shows that she does not care about what the law said. She only cares about her own life and feelings. As a ruler, her entire job would be about laws and making sure people follow them. If she herself does not care about them, she would not have been able to make other people care either. Her emotional are one of her most fatal flaws. Throughout the entire play, Antigone puts her own feelings before the needs of her people. While she is not doing these things selfishly, since she buried her brother for him, she is doing them emotionally. Without a clear head in a crisis, like the death of a family member, Antigone would have been a terrible …show more content…

As a ruler, the ability to think logically and make beneficial decisions is integral. Unfortunately, Antigone does not possess those abilities. She has a set idea of what is right and wrong, which impacts all her decisions in the play. This would be a good thing if her views were not so distorted by her feeling. Antigone is one of literature’s greatest tragedies, but the greatest tragedy is Antigone herself. She was filled with potential she never managed to reach because of her hazy judgment and impulsive nature. Perhaps it was of no fault of her own, but that of the notorious fates that have been ruining her life since before she was born. Whatever the reason may be, Thebes is better off without her as their

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