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Misuse Of Power In Antigone

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People have many different reactions when given power. The reaction is usually either one where they use power for a greater good and to guide others in a better situation, or they can misuse the power given and take advantage of the circumstances or others to make themselves feel even more dominant and in command. In the play, Antigone by Sophocles one of the main characters , King Creon, abuses his power to take superiority of others and in an attempt to gain control. The misuse of power is more frequent than the use of power for the favorable, even in many current events.
In Antigone the new King Creon immediately abuses his power by ruling that Polyneices is to have no interment, even though he is heir of the former King and many believe him to be a warrior with honor. King Creon says, ”Polyneices, I say is to have no burial: no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him: he shall lie on the plain, unburied: and the birds and the scavenging dogs can do with him whatever they like.” (Lines 43-46) This is an obvious corruption of power and an attempt to rule over others by force. It seems that he is trying to intimidate others to obey his edict to gain control by force. The misuse of power is how we see many leaders of the world behaving in the present …show more content…

Although this is very rare, it is certainly true and in this example of the play; our heroine, Antigone tries to use her power to persuade the king to change his law and bring about change for her brother and others. In the play Antigone says to King Creon, “ Your edict King, was strong, but all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal unrecorded laws of God. They are not merely now: they were, and shall be, operative forever, beyond man utterly”. (Lines 68-72) Here she is not only trying to use her power, but also to use the authority of God to persuade the King that his actions are

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