Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles

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It is said, “There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence.” As a leader or ruler those lines may be even more blurred than in regular society. In the plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone both written by Sophocles, Oedipus and Creon both have episodes of arrogance that take control of their judgment and become their downfall. However, it is not how they rule that is the problem, but rather how they deal with the adverse effects of the decisions after learning all of the facts. Moreover, their pride takes control of them consuming their emotions and not allowing them the necessary judgment needed to make better rational decisions. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines pride as: a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people: a feeling that you are more important or better than other people (…), and defines arrogance as: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner: showing an offensive attitude of superiority: proceeding from or characterized by arrogance (…). As one can see the terms arrogance and pride are interchangeable much like Oedipus and Creon are in these two intertwined Greek tragedies. In the Bible it says “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (prov. 16. 18). Pride being a character trait or a psychological trait is unclear to this writer. Although, one thing is clear Oedipus and Creon are two rulers that are unable to reach beyond their prideful limitations to make rational decisions for the good of their people, and is the ultimate demise of themselves, loved ones, and Thebes.
Oedipus the tyrannos known by this because he was considered a ruler for himself and not for his subjects. We are able to ...

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...as a dictator what is put forth is to be set in stone with no wavering for any sight of this shows weakness. In the examples of Oedipus and Creon neither were looking for the outcomes that ultimately prevailed. However, neither were able to see past the blinding characteristics of pride, arrogance, and anger that would see the demise of the loved ones that surround them as well as the fall from grace that both would endure.

Works Cited
"Arrogant." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.
Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2013. Print.
Peterkin, L. Denis. "The Creon Of Sophocles." JSTOR. The University of Chicago Press, 2000-2013. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.
"Pride." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.
"Proverbs 16 KJV." Proverbs 16:18 KJV. Bible Hub, 2012. Web. 01 Nov. 2013.

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