The Power of Change Sometimes the best lessons can be learned not through role models, but rather from people that made past mistakes or unwise decisions. From the play, we can learn many lessons from the king Creon. He makes many mistakes and harms many people through his actions, it’s not until Creon loses everything he loves that he realizes his mistakes and learns from them. In Sophocles 's tragic play Antigone, through Creon’s character we learn that in order to be a successful leader and or person one must not be only strict but also needs to be accommodating to our citizen’s/people’s demands. A rightful, just and successful leader has to be able to know when to listen to his people and when it’s necessary to adapt to the people’s will. …show more content…
Isn’t that just the sickness that’s attacked her?
Haemon: The whole city of Thebes denies it, to a man.
Creon: And is Thebes about to tell me how to rule? (819-821) Creon demonstrates his inability to listen to his people and do what’s best for them, instead Creon believes that listening to his people is a weakness and an insult to his reign. Creon is not able to comprehend that the people know what’s best for them and what’s best for the city of Thebes. Similarly, while Haemon and Creon are arguing about whether or not Creon should listen to the will of the people and whether or not Creon should rule for himself or the people, they argue:
Creon: Am I to rule this land for other or myself? Haemon: It’s no city at all, owned by one man alone. Creon: What? The city is the king’s-that’s the law! (823-825)
Again Creon shows that he is self-centered and can’t fathom that his duty as king is to rule for the people and do what’s best for them. Creon is unable to see that the law is not always fixed and that he needs to change the way that he is currently ruling so that he adapts to do what’s best for the people. Creon shows a certain stubbornness and inability to want to rule for his people instead he wants to do what he desires and is always established in his