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How Does Kreon Obtain Power In Antigone

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Antigone by Sophocles is a dramatic play about the king of Thebes, Kreon, and his quest for absolute power. Like any other man, Kreon was not born with power, but his access to power prompted him for supremacy. Kreon as a tyrant, seeks to gain power over others despotically as demonstrated in the laws that he makes, in his objection of consultation, and in his conversation with Teiresias. Kreon’s moment of true power begins when he introduces his laws and principles after gaining the throne of Thebes. He ended the bloody war between his nephews, Polyneices and Eteokles, and he showed no concern to Polynieces death. He claimed that “they are dead; I am king”(28) and the state will thrive through his principles. To dispel rebels, Kreon banned Polyneices burial and left his body unburied to be “ripped for food by dogs and vultures”(28). Although the law was unreasonable and cruel, the state kept silent out of fear from Kreon’s assertion that “death is the price”(29) for violating his laws. Antigone burying Polyneices out of love caused Kreon to blame and threaten the Sentry, if his did not find the culprit. Even though what is wrong is right, no one stands up against Kreon because his laws are the …show more content…

By killing Antigone, Kreon conveys that all criminals had lost their birthright and like a god, he condemned them worthless. Kreon repudiates any councils that value the gods’ principles or show any pity to Antigone and claims that the “gods honoring criminals” is impossible (32). Kreon objected advice from Koryphaios, Teiresias, and even his own son, Haimon by insulting them that they are property of women. “We’re your ruler,” he proclaim with supremacy, “it’s my job to rule this land” (50-62). By putting himself above all the others, Kreon regard his principle as primary to anything elses. He denies all aspect of the best men’s counsels and rule by absolute

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