Leadership Flashcards
Leadership in the Classical World
- Various forms of leadership in the ancient world - Athens was a democracy but this was unusual as tyrants or oligarchs ran most states
- the plays we study, Oedipus and Antgione, look at the dnagers of one man rule and are very pro democracy
- A leader in the ancient world could be responsible for their city, family, people and community
- Many of the plays and texts in the ancient world are concerned with what is seen as good leadership and bad leadership
Introduction
The theme of Leadership is a common topic of discussion in the ancient world. Athens in the 5th century BC was a Democratic state, giving political power to the people.
Much of their literature focuses on the idea of leadership, specifically the dangers of a single ruler.
Most cities in the ancient world were ruled by kings or tyrants, who were responsible for the welfare of their people and the city. The plays Antigone and Oedipus the King by Sophocles both explore the theme of leadership in various ways.
In this essay I will discuss the view that a leader who stands by their decisions is to be admired by looking at: the character of Oedipus, who tries to help his people as best he can; the character of Creon who brings stability back to the state of Thebes; and the character of Antigone who is devoted to her beliefs and standing against the state.
Oedipus - Context + initial interpretation
In the play Oedipus the King, we see the character of Oedipus make good decisions which lead to him getting closer to finding the murderer of Laius and helping the people of Thebes, however we also follow his downward spiral into his realisation that he cannot escape his fate.
At the beginning of the play, we see the people of Thebes suffering from a plague which is killing their cattle and crop. Oedipus sends Creon to the Delphic Oracle who tells him the murderer of Laius is in Thebes and must be found to rid the city of the plague, Oedipus launches full heartedly into an investigation to find Laius’ killer.
Oedipus is a leader who should be admired for his decisions as he sticks to his decision to discover Laius’ killer and to help his people.
Oedipus curses the murderer to exile, on the one hand this makes him admirable as he sticks to his word as when the investigation comes to a conclusion that he was in fact the murderer, Oedipus exiles himself, so he stood by his decision.
Oedipus - Differing Interpretation
However, on the other hand this is a less admirable quality of Oedipus is that when he feels threatened, he passes the blame onto others. Tiresias, a well established prophet, is summoned to reveal to Oedipus who killed Laius but when Tiresias tells Oedipus that he killed Laius, Oedipus becomes very defensive and starts pointing the finger at Tiresias and accusing him of conspiring with the murderer, ‘nothing will save you now, you sightless, senseless, scheming slave!’.
Oedipus’ true temper makes him less reputable as it gets in the way often of his decision to help the people of Thebes as he becomes angry and threatening towards Tiresias.
Ultimately, this refusal to believe Tiresias punishes Oedipus more as when it is fully discovered that he is the murderer it is more embarrassing for him and his ego due to his intense denial.
By not believing Tiresias, he harms his reputation as he now has made himself appear a fool by not accepting his fate.
Conclusion
Therefore, in conclusion leaders in classical literature who stand by their decisions are to be admired.
One the one hand we can see that the character of Antigone can be admired for her leadership qualities as she has a devoted nature to do what she believes is right.
However, on the other hand she often lets her stubbornness get in the way of her decision-making skills as she does not listen to other people’s opinions.
Furthermore, on the one hand through the character of Oedipus we see that he is an admirable leader as he does his best to help the people of Thebes and stand say his decisions until the very end.
However, on the other hand it could be suggested that Oedipus let’s his anger in the way when he disapproves with others, and he starts passing blame which isn’t as admirable as his anger can cloud his decisions.
Finally, on the one hand through the character of Creon we see that he is also an admirable leader who sticks by his decisions as he make correct decisions to bring stability to the state.
However, on the other hand it could be suggested that Creon should have been more lenient in his decisions as in the end his decisions ultimately lead to many deaths and tragedy making him stand by his decisions less desirable as a leader.
Quotes
‘nothing will save you now, you sightless, senseless, scheming slave!’.
Antigone qualities of good leader
- stands up for wht she believes in and knows to be right (the burial of her brother Polynices)
- upholds the natural laws of the gods as dictated by traditional Greek religion - that women take care of the corpse and ensure that it recives the proper burial rites
Antigone qualities of bad leader
- follows her own belief whihc she considers to be the most important rather than respecting the deciosn of the state/government
- antigone follows her own interest, her actions could be considered selfish, as she does not have anyone elses interests at heart
Creon good leader/King of Thebes
- takes control of the city after the detahs of Polynices and Eteocles
- Does what he belives to be in the best interests of the people of Thebes (finds a common enemy for the people to rally around)
- sticks to his promises (threatens to kill anyone who defies his law and he does snetence antigone to death)
- helps with the running of thebes when Oedipus steps down - did not want to be leader (quite happy bing second in command)
- does eventually listen to the advice of Tiresias and sees the errors of his ways althoug it was too late for antigone
Creon bad leader/King of Thebes
- he defied the natualr laws of the gods in favour of his own personal prefrences (refusing to bury polynices as he deemed him to be a traitor)
- he was unrelenting in his attitude towards antigone until it was too late
- his stubborn attitude cost him his niece, son and wife
- he was unapproachable and considered scary by those around him (sentry, people of Thebes)
Oedipus good leader/King of Thebes
- investigates the plague which is casuing the deaths in the city - sends creon to the oracle to ask for help - he was raised to be a king/leader (just not of thebes)
- promises rto deal harshley with whomever is resposible causing it (ironic as he is the one) - punishes himself bu guaging out his own eyes and sending himself to exile - he said he would be harsh
- his people seek his help as he helped them before - they seem to have respect for oedipus at the start of the play; his children love him
Oedipus bad leader/King of Thebes
- doesnt listen to the advice of tiresias whom he knows is always correct - stubborness
- has the opportunity to stop the investigation but is far too involved in his own affairs to see the problems that are lying ahead
- turns agaisnt creon - accuses him (and tiresias) of being the killer of laius (paranoia)
- ultimatly tries to protect himself - rejects creon, Tiresius and Jocasta
