Leadership in Oedipus Rex
This essay will examine the portrayal of leadership in Sophocles’ tragic play “Oedipus Rex.” It will analyze Oedipus’s leadership qualities, including his determination, intelligence, and commitment to his people, as well as his flaws such as hubris and impulsiveness. The piece will explore how Sophocles uses Oedipus’s character to comment on the nature of leadership, fate, and the responsibilities that come with power. It will also discuss the implications of Oedipus’s downfall for understanding ancient Greek perspectives on leadership and governance. Moreover, at PapersOwl, there are additional free essay samples connected to Antigone.
While comparing the similarities between Oedipus and Creon, they both accepted their guilt behind their actions, felt guilty for their actions and Creon would make a better position as a president for 2021. Oedipus accepts his guilt when he realizes that he murdered his father and slept with his mother and also finds Jocasta dead. Oedipus then later blinds himself from facing reality and the actual truth. ‘And as this dirge went up, so did his hands strike his founts of sight not once but many times” (Roche 70).
Creon had to accept one of his guilt by realizing that his family died because of a mistake he made in sending Antigone to her death. He starts to repent by burying Polyneices, but finds that it was too late to save Antigone. ‘Murdered son, father murdering.
Son, my son, cut down dead! New life that’s disappeared. And by no youthful foolishness. But by my folly’ (Roche 248). Both Creon and Oedipus felt guilty of their actions also. Creon was directly given the title of king because both Oedipus and Creon were descendants to the throne. Oedipus reasons that he was given the title of king because he had just so happen to have killed the man on the street who happened to be the king of Thebes. Oedipus and Creon were able to rise with power because of the familiar violence shared between them. Oedipus also accepts his fault in blaming Creon.
‘Ah What words are left for me to him? What title to sincerity and trust when all my past behavior’s proved so wrong?’ (Roche 75). Oedipus soon then takes the blame and punishes himself. With the stubbornness of both men shows how they believed they were above the influence of fate. Oedipus would be a better fit for president in 2021 because ?he was a good leader. He gained special powers, qualities, and characteristics. Although Oedipu’s fate, he had a lot of pride and a temper but he was very determined in solving mysterious problems. For example, he saved the city in Sphinx.
Oedipus was a smart, capable, and caring ruler but was blinded by a tragic situation that occurred in the play. Creon also has good characteristic traits but wouldn’t be a good fit for president behind his ruthless leadership. Explaining Oedipus personality traits, he was a good man. He cared for his citizens, was very intelligent and took great leadership. He also had flaws like every human on earth. Oedipus had outrageous pride and a temper that were also considered his weakness. Creon was trustworthy, compassionate, honest and brave. Creon on the other hand didn’t have the best leadership as Oedipus when he took over for king of Thebes but he suddenly became capable by the end of the tragedy. He was also narrow minded and very conceited. President Trump can take great leadership, be very honest, confident and brave having the same similarities as Creon but Trump also has pride and a temper as well as Oedipus in the play.
The lesson that people can learn from Oedipus play till this day is that pride can be your biggest downfall while continuously not taking full responsibility. Once Oedipus came to a realization, he knew that he was imperfect then gained wisdom and humility at the end of the play. During the play, Oedipus had too much pride where he thought he could trick the gods. Which was not one of the best decisions he had made but learned from it. As you read and learn more about Oedipus’ play, it is still knowledge and teachable in today’s time that he leaves his legacy behind.
Oedipus couldn’t outrun his fate but he did try to escape from his fate by never returning to Corinth, the city where he grew up. He also would never start seeing the people he thought were his parents again. Oedipus was grew up fixed from birth to one day marry his mother and to murder his father. He didn’t have free will to make the choices for his fate in the future but it was his actions that later led him to kill his real father Laius and to marry his mother Jocasta.
Works Cited
- Sophocles & Bagg, Robert & Sophocles. Oedipus Rex & Sophocles. Oedipus at Colonus & Sophocles.
- Antigone ?The Oedipus cycle?. HarperPerennial ; Enfield : Publishers Group UK [distributor], New York, 2012.
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