Leadership In Sophocles Antigone

Leader

In the beginning lines of Sophocles’s Antigone, Antigone pulls her sister outside the gates “where no one else can hear” when she declares that she will defy Kreon’s orders to not bury Polyneikes (l. 25). She illustrates an innate knowledge of the power that her words carry and the danger that is inherent in the possibility of her bold statements being overheard or repeated. Similarly, in Shakespeare’s King Lear, Cordelia expresses a similar knowledge when her father, King Lear, asks her to profess her love and she refuses because she loves him “according to [her] bond, no more nor less” (1.1.102). Cordelia responds to Lear with silence because she understands that the spoken word carries power, which can significantly influence the

listener. However, both Antigone and Cordelia meet a tragic fate because the spoken word includes an interaction between the speaker and the listener and therefore, the listener can reject the speakers influence by ignoring their words. Tonight, the characters of Antigone and King Lear have manifested on stage to show us how the influence of the spoken word is dependent upon the interaction between the speaker and the listener and their relative positions within society. In addition, despite the differences in power or position in society, the responsibility to objectively evaluate the morals of what is being said lies with both the speaker and the listener.
Scene One
(Curtain rises to Antigone, Kreon, Cordelia, and King Lear sitting together in silence)
Cordelia
Silence is powerful, but so are the words that fill it. We use our voices to express that which is important to us, in hopes that it will influence the people who hear them. Often, it does, and those who hold positions that allow their opinion to reach a wider audience, have more influence and therefore, their words are more powerful than others.
Antigone
But not if we ignore them! Kreon told everyone to not bury Polyneikes, but I denied him because he was “a mere man” who did not “have the force to trample on the gods’ unwritten and infallible laws” (ll. 490-491). All citizens of Thebes know the gods’ laws and therefore, the gods gain their power from a collective voice, a power which Kreon’s can never compare to.
Kreon
But Antigone you forget that you died for your insolence! You may have personally denied the power of my words as a man in comparison to those of the gods, but I had also “taken power and assumed the throne” and therefore, I was not just a man (ll. 205-206). By using spoken word, to declare myself king, I gave myself the power to create laws that influenced the whole kingdom and as such, my voice became stronger than anyone else’s within the kingdom of Thebes.
King Lear
Ahh! Kreon you always go off about your position as King and creating laws! You must meet my Fool! He will lighten your spirits!”
Cordelia
Father, you were a king too.

Remember? How else would you have single handedly “divided/In three our kingdom…To shake all cares and business from [your age]” without having a power similar to Kreon (1.1. 39-42)? You may not have called your words edicts as Kreon does, but you speak and a thousand must follow. Your words divided a kingdom, much like the way Kreon’s words created laws for one. You and Kreon, illustrate the power of the spoken word when originating from a leader, whose voice reaches many listeners with little effort.

King Lear

Oh yes…I do forget myself sometimes...

Leader

Don’t worry about it King Lear! It happens to the best of us. Anyway, the concept that the power of the spoken word can be dependent on ones’ orientation within society is very compelling when talking to two kings. I definitely see how the power of the spoken word can be a significant tool to leaders, whose voices reach many people quickly and authoritatively.

Scene 2

Leader

Since we have been talking about the power of the spoken word and how leaders in particular, gain significant influence because of the number of people they can reach at one time, do you all believe that those with more power then have more responsibility to be aware of the implications of their

words?
Kreon
Well, I believe that having the leaders shoulder all the responsibility is unfair because “there’s nothing worse than a man, while he’s running a city, who fails to act on sound advice—but fears something so much his mouth clamps shut” (ll. 210-213). Therefore, one cannot concern themselves with the power of their words that they refuse to say anything at all. I may have made a mistake in the way that I handled things with Antigone, but it was my responsibility to take the course of action that I saw as best for the citizens of Thebes. Also, there were many people around me who could have said something!
Antigone
Kreon, you forget that “To please you” the citizens “bite their tongues” (l. 550)! Your rule intimidated them and the threat of a leader who did not know the power of his words silenced their opinions.
Kreon
How is it my fault if they say nothing? I obviously said earlier that I believed in acting on the advice of others.
Antigone
But you also threatened the guard who initially told you about the news of Polyneikes being buried. You swore that it was your “solemn oath: if [he didn’t] find the man who carried out this burial and drag him before [you], a quick trip to Hades [wouldn’t] be [his] fate” (ll. 336-339). Not only did you scare the guard, but you illustrated to the people of Thebes through your oath that you were not willing to take any potential mistake back. You staked your honor on that oath and so defying you also meant insulting you. No one spoke up because they did not want to risk hurting the pride of a king. The fact that you did not notice shows that you do not comprehend the true power a leader carries.
Cordelia
Antigone it is very interesting that you made that connection because I remember Lear saying something similar to Kent before he banished him. He told him, “That thou hast sought to make us break our vows—/which we durst never yet—and with strained pride/To come betwixt our sentence and our power,/which nor our nature nor our place can bear” (1.1.193-195). Similar to Kreon’s oath, my father references his “vows” and therefore, indicates that he has tied his pride to his decisions, which prevents him from being flexible in his rule. My father did not understand the power that he held or the implications of dividing his kingdom, which resulted in his downfall. Further, I think that his example emphasizes the importance of knowing the power your words. When my father asked me to illustrate my love I could only reply with “nothing, my lord” because what one expresses in spoken word is important and carries weight. You must be aware of that weight or those who hear you will become mislead.
Scene Three
Leader
Cordelia, earlier you said that the spoken word can be misleading to the collective that follows the speaker however, wouldn’t you say that those who listen also have a responsibility to evaluate what is being said objectively? In addition to the responsibility to speak up when they disagree?
Cordelia
I’m not sure because even though I did find it admirable when Kent vowed to Lear that “whilst [he] can vent clamor from [his] throat,/[he’ll] tell thee thou dost evil,” he was still banished from the kingdom (1.1 189-190). His opinions came with consequences and ultimately, he failed to influence Lear.
Kreon
I agree with Cordelia. Before I thought that it was unfair to shoulder the responsibility solely on the leaders, but as I illustrated with Antigone, those who speak out endanger themselves to the pride of the leader. In the end, “there’s no one I can blame, no other mortal. I am the only one” (ll. 1472-1474).
Antigone
Kreon, despite our disagreements I do think you are being too hard on yourself. Haimon mentioned to you one time that the people of Thebes were saying “No person ever, they [said], less deserved to die…Those are the words they whisper[ed] in the shadows” (ll. 768-769, l. 776). They had a collective and therefore, would have had a power similar to yours if they would have voiced their opinions outright. You may have been stubborn, but Thebes had a responsibility to state what they believed to be unfair.
Leader
These are all very good points, but it seems we are out of time. Thank you for coming everyone! It is clear from our discussions that the power of the spoken word is highly dependent on the interaction between who is listening and who is speaking. Initially, it seems inherent that those who reach more people have more power and therefore, need to be careful about what they say. However, those listening, also choose to listen and as a result, they have a responsibility to evaluate the speaker objectively. Additionally, there will be many times in your life when you will have the opportunity to express your opinion. Sometimes it will be as a leader or a parent. Other times it will be expressing your opinion as a member of society and voting for a someone else. In both cases, you have a responsibility to be knowledgeable of the importance of your influence. Make sure you choose your words wisely.