Power and authority can bring out a person’s character. Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Anyone can fight against his or her hardships, but the way a person uses their authority shows their potential and leadership qualities. The plays Antigone by Sophocles and Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare prove this a valid quote. In the play Antigone, Creon becomes overly confident with his power, and he gains excessive pride. In Julius Caesar, after Caesar is assassinated, Mark Antony becomes oppressive, ruthless, and tyrannical.
One of the themes in Antigone is hubris. Creon, the ruler of Thebes, tries to appease the gods as the leader. His power causes him to become arrogant and he displeases the gods. He loses sight of the difference between civil and divine law. The conflict between civil law and divine law reoccurs throughout the play. Antigone believes in divine law over civil law. She thinks that civil laws are unfair and wants to bury her brother. Antigone is breaking civil law because Polyneices died in a war against Creon. Creon decides to kill Antigone for disobeying him. Creon believes that civil law is necessary to govern a city but divine law is not. He will do whatever it takes to keep his power. Many of Creon’s people died because he became overly confident due to his power. Therefore, his power showed his leadership qualities and arrogant character.
The abuse of power is a theme in Julius Caesar. Mark Antony abuses his power and becomes tyrannical. The conspirators assassinated Caesar to save Rome from who they thought was an oppressive leader. Mark Antony was very angry that Caesar was dead; his emotions provoked his misuse of power toward the people. Antony becomes the tyrannical leader, not Caesar. His manipulative speech brainwashed the people so he could gain power. Then, he became a tyrant and mistreated his people. His power gave him even more confidence than he had before, which caused him to become corrupt. Once Antony won complete power over all of
Navarro 11
Rome, he started killing the senators and other Roman diplomats. Antony was corrupted as he gained more and more power, and he chose to use the power for his own benefits. Thus many rulers are corrupt and don’t use their power for the good of the people.
Plays and other works of literature such as Antigone and Julius Caesar show that power can show a person’s potential and change a person’s character. Antigone and Julius Caesar portrayed characters with power that revealed their leadership qualities and personal characteristics. Power can bring out the positive and negative qualities of a person.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Throughout history, there have been countless kings and rulers that have shaped government systems and history as a whole. The bad kings and rulers are often remembered as tyrants and unfair dictators. It is a fair assumption that throughout the play Antigone, Creon ruled with an “iron fist,” but undoubtedly over-exercised his powers when dealing with his punishment for Antigone for burying Polyneices’ body. He continually insisted that his law was in accordance with what the gods wanted. His stubbornness kept him from listening to Haemon, even though his son tried to persuade Creon from executing Antigone. Sophocles intentionally has Creon lose everything towards the end of the play to show the consequences of confusing his own law with what the gods would want. In his play Antigone, Sophocles shows the danger in being too stubborn and self-reliant a ruler, as well as mixing human law with divine law by presenting a proud, overbearing ruler in Creon.…
- 581 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Antigone’s assumption of the masculine role of hero transgresses cultural norms. Creon’s disregard for the obligations of kinship and the common good is equally transgressive. He is not only head of the family, but king. Ultimately, however, both isolate themselves from both the family and the city by defining justice in terms of the heroic code, which is destructive of…
- 61 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Power can change people in a way that is incomprehensible either for good or for evil. Power can make one so greedy that someone will do anything for it and won’t let anyone, or thing stand in their way. Macbeth by William Shakespeare portrays both the positive and negative uses on Power through the main characters. Macbeth’s greed of power allowed him to exercise abuse and ultimately he was corrupted and destroyed by power. Lady Macbeth used power in a positive way but her ultimate goal was domination of the Crown. Shakespeare uses dialogue and symbolism to allow his readers to engage with his mood and therefore the concepts of power.…
- 889 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
L.M. Montgomery once said, “...we pay the price for everything we get or take in this world”. What he is trying to say is that we have to face the consequences for the choices we make. There is always a result from everything that happens, giving or taking, will result in something else. I agree with his philosophy, mainly because it speaks pure truth about how most things are run in the common society that we as human beings live in. Two pieces of literature that best support this quote are “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, and “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding.…
- 816 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The conflicts underlying Antigone is the conflict between human law which makes sense at the moment, and divine law, which is true for all time. Antigone acted upon the moment, a moment when her actions were just. Her defiance of the state sets in motion a series of events that test the bonds of filial piety and what it means to live under divine law. Haemon loved Antigone and wanted to marry her. When his father condemned her to death and would not see the error, he committed suicide. Upon learning about her son’s death, Creon’s wife commits suicide. Creon was not loyal to his family and disobeyed divine law. Creon betrayed every facet of the foundation of Greek beliefs. The only facet he held loyal to was under-valuing the power of a woman. His inability to get past Antigone being a woman long enough to hear out his son, or the Gods, ultimately led to the state losing everything.…
- 1162 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Antigone, loyal and determined, exhibits those qualities, one scholar even describes her as a “heroine” (Holland 323). Because of Antigone’s “…absolute focus on her goal,” burring her brother and living up to the holy laws of God, “there is “no doubt she loves her own,” and only wants what is morally proper and for God’s will to be done (McNeill 1). Antigone fights for what she believes in,” to show respect and love towards her,” and what she believes her brother deserves (Conflicting Values in Antigone 1). Creon, who “makes his ruling because Polyneices attacked Thebes with by army,” undeniably wants to protect his people (King Creon in Antigone 1). As clearly portrayed in the play, Creon evidently loves his wife and children, one could argue that he made his ruling to protect them. Courtesy of Chegg Study, Creon’s “power may have been taken for granted by the people of Thebes” had he not acted against Polyneices (Chegg1). While Antigone does meet certain criteria to be the plays tragic hero, Creon fits it more…
- 850 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Everyone has his or her own way of gaining power. However, when they gain power they can get anything they want. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, there are many characters that do many rare things to gain power of the people. Julius Caesar will do anything he can to get what he wants. Also, Mark Antony uses the art of persuasion to achieve his goals. Lastly, Cassius has the ability to manipulate people to gain power. Within the play Julius Caesar, the theme of power and ambition is developed through the following characters: Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Cassius.…
- 584 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly", was once said by Antoine De Saint-Exupery. This is an accurate quote to live by and refer to daily since following your instincts is usually the best decision for yourself. It leads you to do exactly what you want to do, instead of anyone getting to your mindset. This quote can also be shown in literature-characters go through hardships within there own minds. But when a third party expresses their own opinion of the problem then the character becomes confused and eventually withdrawled from what they really want. Accordingly, two works of literature that best show how following your heart(mind) is the better decision would be Tennesse Williams play The Glass Minagerie and Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. However, Tom and John Proctor are both faced with making a decision-good or bad, with help or not, a decision must be made. Along with problems in real life these two characters had to go with their "gut" instinct, and in the end-it was the best decision possible.…
- 910 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
J.F. Clarke once stated, “The bravest of individuals is the one who obeys his or her conscience.” To me, this statement means that any individual who follows their conscience, and what they find to be right or wrong, is most brave, or strong, because they step away from society’s opinion and go with their own feelings whether it be what they need or desire. I agree with this statement because I also feel that an individual who listens to their conscience shows bravery. In my opinion someone who follows their conscience rather than society’s standards shows a lot of strength. It takes a lot of character for a person to leave their comfort zone to do the right thing, especially when that person has no support. Two literary works that support my opinion are The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. In both of these literary works the protagonists are faced with life altering decisions where they must make choices and differentiate right from wrong while having no support from other characters.…
- 1057 Words
- 5 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Cicero once stated that “… The greater the difficulty the grater the glory …” My interpretation of this would be in order to fulfill ones goals or desires you most struggle to get there, the more you struggle the more satisfaction you’ll feel in the end. I agree with this statement because in this world and generation we are living in things don’t come easy. One most work hard for what they want. In order to get from point A to point B you must move towards it or you’ll never reach where you’re trying to get threw out the many challenges. Two stories that emulate this quote would be Sweat by Zara Neale Hurston & The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst. Both authors uses Characterization and Conflict.…
- 326 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Anne Lamott said, “Good literature substitutes for an experience which we have not ourselves lived through.” Good literature allows individuals to live through events which they have not encountered in their lives. I agree with this quote because I believe it is true. This quote is shown to be true through the books, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. In both pieces of literature, characters had an experience which we haven’t had or been through. Books help us understand the situations that we haven’t faced yet.…
- 638 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
For some people, there is a call to rise. An ambition—a competition—is planted in them, and they dream of influence. These are the people who become rulers, who lead the way of nations, who bend circumstance under their will. Julius Caesar certainly is an example: his presumption towards bravery holds the nation beneath his grip. He fears no bad omens, and even signs of death do not scare him. He tells his wife just hours before his assassination: “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.” (2.2.34-35). Once Caesar has died, his penchant for domination cannot cease. Cassius has sown in Brutus the need for glory: “’Brutus’ and ‘Caesar’—what should be in that ‘Caesar’? Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” (1.2.149-152). Thus power lives anew. As Brutus takes hold of authority, both his desire and aptitude for control begin to grow. This race before supremacy demonstrates the innate greed of human reign.…
- 403 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
‘Antony and Cleopatra’ composed by Shakespeare presents different types of power which people exercise to manipulate and to control others. Sometimes the use of power can have tragic results where people become victims of their own desires. At other times, power can be used to enhance somebody’s reputation and position in life. The types of power that are highlighted in this play include, power of a sexual nature, political or military power, the power of persuasion and manipulation.…
- 1371 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Jimi Hendrix said,” When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” It means that when people stop being “power-hungry” then, slowly, the corruption of the world will decline. In Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Caesar was a”power-hungry” person. After he defeated Pompey, he wanted to become emperor of Rome. Rome was a republic and didn’t want an emperor or dictator.…
- 641 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The second main assertion of the character is about the punishment of the Antigone for denying the Theban rule established by King about the burial of her brother. Creon wanted to punish Antigone for violating the state law and burying her brother. He supported his argument by providing proper proof for it. He mentioned the fact that this is only Antigone among the citizens who thinks family and divine law are more…
- 513 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays