Comparison of Antigone and Creons leadership.

The story of Antigone is full of issues regarding leadership and the conflict surrounding these issues. Creon decisions and choices were influenced by his inexperience in leadership. His forceful style leads him straight to disaster which results in losing his son and wife. This disaster was a direct result of his decision to kill Antigone for disobeying his edict regarding the forbidden burial of her brother, Polyneices. He believed his rules were superior, even to those unwritten statues of the God's which Antigone was committed. In his attempts to justify himself to the other characters, he used rational persuasion. This only revealed his gender bias toward women and his disdain for the views of his youthful son, Haemon. His use of coercive power and ensuing symbolic action of making an example of Antigone was surely made to strengthen his position of power and authority within his kingdom. Creon's inexperience in the field of leadership resulted in unimaginable sorrow and death.

Nikiforos Lytras, Antigone in front of the dead Po...

Cadmus Sowing the Dragon's teeth, by Maxfield Parr...

Sarus Crane (Grus antigone). Français : Grue Anti...

This discussion will address the topics of leadership style, decision making, conflict style, and how the various characters respond to these issues. Both Creon and Antigone will be examined regarding these topics. Antigone's defiance to Creon's edict is the underlying source of conflict. The aspects of leadership presented in the Antigone case are relevant in all areas of an individual's life. By analyzing Creon's and Antigone's opposing view points and how they relevant to today, we can learn by Creon's example to become better leaders ourselves.

Leadership Power and Influence

Personalized Leader

Creon displayed traits of a personalized leader for he was typically selfish, impulsive, and exercised power for his own self centered needs and interest rather than take into consideration what was good for his people. He used Antigone's punishment in a symbolic nature to demonstrate consequences...