Sophocles Antigone †Comparing the Symbolic Alignment Utilized by Creo

Sophocles Antigone Comparing the Symbolic conjugation Utilized by Creon and chairwoman George Bush... he who has not runner laid his foundations may be able with great ability to fructify them afterwards, hardly they will be laid with trouble to the architect and risk of exposure to the building. - The Prince by Machiavelli Sophocles addresses this very problem in his play Antigone by the methods Creon uses to reign Thebes. Creon begins ruling Thebes in a very difficult time and circumstance. The polis has been embroil in tragedy for over a generation. Creon must rule the urban center and consolidate the Theban citizens behind him. He resorts to symbolic means to unify the people, but he goes too far-- he is unyielding in his esteem to the symbolic indemnity he adopts, and too late becomes aware that he is actually losing the people he tries to lead.Creon capitalizes on recent tragic events in Thebes to consolidate his power and legitimize his position. The latest war in Thebes was waged betwixt two brothers-- Eteocles and Polyneices. Polyneices, the elder brother, was to have the throne but Eteocles drove him issue by convincing the people that Polyneices carried Oedipus curse. Polyneices went to Argos and raised an army, then returned in mark to drive Eteocles out and retake control of Thebes (Oedipus at Colonus 1532-5). In the result battle, the brothers killed each other-- they worked out their share in common death (Antigone 162). Their fight is over. Polyneices army has returned to Argos, leaving the kingship of Thebes to Creon.Creon has just come to power in a city that has had more than its share of grief King Laius was murdered, then the Sphynx and a plague tormented the polis with death. Next, Oedipus discovered his own crime... ...e question is not grotesque the ancient Thebes, however, and it behooves us to examine Creons methods and goals in light of current events. For example, Pre brassnt Bush is currently using the tragedy of t he World Trade centerfield attacks last year to unite the American people... more importantly to unite them under his leadership. His approval ratings are sky-high, up in the 70th percentile, consort to polls by Gallup, CNN, USAToday, Fox, the Christian Science Monitor, Time, and others (http//www.pollingreport.com/BushFav.htm). By making his policy one of Good vs. Evil, he has polarized the conflict, and who wouldnt want to be on the side of the Good? This method is not inherently wrong or bad, but with it come many caveats, as Creon discovered, and as Machiavelli warns. Symbols can be useful tools, but like any good tool, they can be self-destructive if used without care.