Abuse Of Power In Antigone

Excessive pride and power are portrayed in the play Antigone in many ways. These themes create havoc and tragedy. Creon and Antigone contribute to the damage and turmoil that are unfolding because of their pride and thirst for power. Although their beliefs clash with one another, they become more similar than originally portrayed. Antigone's as well as Creon's stubbornness and hunger for power create a toxic environment because they are unwilling to compromise. The play highlights the consequences once again of unbridled pride and power abuse, depicting the destruction that can take place when people value their own pride and authority above everything else. Antigone is a perfect example of how pride and the thirst for power intertwine and

Gilgamesh is portrayed as a conceited ruler who is consumed by his own pride and desire for power. As King of Uruk, he exploits his power and disregards his citizens' well-being. His arrogance blinds him to the consequences of his actions and distances him from the needs and worries of his people. Pride and a desire for power cause turmoil and disaster in both Antigone and Gilgamesh. They emphasize the hazards of excessive arrogance and the importance of humility and self-awareness. Antigone and Gilgamesh eventually confront the repercussions of their acts, which result in personal tragedy as well as a wider disruption of societal order. His tyranny and repressive behavior cause the people of Uruk to suffer, forcing them to cry out for help. Disturbed by Gilgamesh's pride, the gods decide to interfere by creating Enkidu as a counterweight to Gilgamesh. "To the one who survives [the gods] leave grieving; the dream leaves sorrow to the one who survives" (Gilga; L.75) After Gilgamesh loses Enkidu, he grieves and later becomes humble. Ultimately, Antigone and Gilgamesh point out that an excessive amount of pride and power only creates chaos. Both readings highlight this and display the consequences that

Both Socrates and his accusers portray pride, but in different ways that contribute to the stormy circumstances surrounding his trial. This is something similar to what we witness in Antigone. Both readings explore themes of pride and power and the resulting inevitable chaos within their respective narratives. In both readings, pride is evident in the central characters. Socrates' pride is reflected in his refusal to compromise on a philosophical mission; he wants to pursue the truth while he faces the threat of death. "Even so, let the matter proceed as the god may wish, but I must obey the law and make my defense" (Apol p. 19). This is very similar to Antigone, given that she faced death because she wanted to pursue what she believed in and did not compromise with Creon. The clash of pride and power in both works reveals weaknesses in human judgment and underlines the potential for chaos and catastrophe when they are not stopped. As mentioned prior, pride and power are not necessarily bad things; what determines that are the intentions behind them. Although Socrates and Antigone did not have bad intentions with their pride, evidently it resulted in chaos and