President George W. Bush and Antigone: Changing Your Mind

An old Chinese proverb states that a man who is wise will change his mind often, while the fool will remain obstinate. In Antigone, by Sophocles, King Creon makes a law contradicting a person’s basic human rights, and in the end he pays dearly for it by losing the remainder of his family. In comparison is the late President George W. Bush, he, in the early years of his presidency, launched an illegal war on Iraq. Both leaders ultimately met their downfall, and in Creon’s case, lived out his own words, “the stiffest stubborn wills fall the hardest” (528-529).

In Antigone Creon reveals his obstinate nature and how even someone as important as a king is not invulnerable to the problems such a character flaw causes. In the beginning of Antigone the townspeople of Thebes rejoice in their new leader, “Creon,” they call, “the new man for the new day” (174). The repetition of ‘new’ shows how the city is ready to welcome Creon with open arms; this outright praise of Creon shows how highly he is regarded by his people. “You cannot know a man completely…his sense of judgment, not till he’s shown his colors…making laws” (194-197). Here Sophocles is showing the reader not to trust Creon absolutely because even if it seems that it is a new age is dawning, Creon may not be a good leader. In this passage Creon seems determined to prove that he is as strong as Oedipus and Laius to whom Thebes was extremely loyal even through tough times, he is so desperate to prove himself that soon after he sentences Antigone to death. Later, after Antigone has been captured, Creon’s own son, Haemon, comes to him saying, “don’t please, be quite so single-minded” (789). At this point Creon is being directly told of what he is doing. Haemon is someone Creon shou...

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...from. He had fallen—hard.

The obstinate remain ignorant of their inevitable demise; both President George W. Bush and king Creon illustrate the damaging effects, not only to themselves but also to society as a whole, not learning this lesson is. In a society where people believe their leader is not responsive to their complaints or ideas they will become less involved, only looking out for themselves and not for their fellow citizens. However, in a society where the leader actively responds to the issues presented to him or her, their society will become more interconnected and interdependent. The apathy towards government and anything related to politics that is shown in the U.S. today is a probable result of the feeling that people aren’t being heard. The question is will the leaders of tomorrow learn this lesson or make the same mistakes as their predecessors.