Sophocles Antigone's Rule

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.

At the time Antigone takes place, Antigone is only a teenager. Historically, it was common for children of her age to be ruling entire countries, but there is a reason that does not happen anymore. The human brain does not fully develop until a person is well into their mid-twenties, especially the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is the part the brain responsible for decision making. Scientifically, Antigone can not rule properly because she simply is not old enough. In contrast, Creon is older and has some more experience. He is in no way perfect, but he is certainly better than Antigone, who does not have the mental capability to make informed decisions. After all, the science does not lie.
Antigone’s stubbornness is another attribute that made her unfit for the thrown. Ismene herself says that Antigone is “too headstrong” (Sophocles 163). At the end of the play, the chorus says that one of the most important things a ruler can be is wise. That is exactly what Antigone is not. Her stubbornness and get in the way of that. That is why she decided to bury Polyneices despite the fact that it was illegal, and Ismene begged her not to. She was so adamant in her decision that she would not even consider what her sister, who was also her only living relative, wanted her to do. Her stubbornness got in the way of the last good relationship she had in her life, and would also get in the way of her leadership.
Another thing that hindered Antigone’s ability to be a good ruler is her emotions.

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

ruler.
Antigone is a girl with all right intentions, and none of the right actions.

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

monarch.