King Lear /Burial at Thebes (A): The tragic outcome of both plays results from failure of leadership - page 1
Keywords: King Lear William Shakespeare Burial At Thebes Antigone Sophocles Seamus Heaney Failure of Leadership Tragic Tragedy Hero
By roshooo on 10/06/2010
Level: A Level (Year 13)
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Both plays clearly fit the typical ‘tragedy’ genre, although each play fits the tragedy of its time. ‘King Lear’ depicts the necessary fall of the main character, whose fall affects the welfare of the entire state of England. King Lear is an elevated individual, due to his status as king, however his hamartia makes him human and we can relate to his pride and suffering, inevitably arousing pity. ‘Burial at Thebes’ similarly depicts the socially elevated, but imperfect, Creon whose actions prompt the tragedy. Like Shakespearian tragedy, this greek tragedy conveys the peripertia of the King, brought on by his fatal flaw, in this case his pride, blindness and deafness to warnings. Although the greek tragedy evokes pity from the audience, it also creates a sense of fear for disobeying the gods. Despite the ease of categorising the plays’ genre, the source of the tragedy is debatable. Whilst the necessary anagnorisis is present in both plays, Lear’s catharsis comes at a much earlier stage than Creon’s, however the need for the kings’ revelations allow us to question the leadership of the two kings within ‘King Lear’ and ‘Burial at Thebes’.
An effective leader is one who maintains consensus and standards within their society, acts with dignity and integrity at all times, leads by example, creates a sense of stability in the face of threat and, most importantly, has the interests of their citizens/subjects at heart. Although both Creon and Lear hold the title of king, they fail to meet the aforementioned criteria and, in fact, act in an opposing manner. Though Creon cites that a good leader “[acts] in the interests of all citizens” and condemns “the man who has all good advice and then, because his nerve fails, fails to act in accordance with it,” he practices the contrary, failing to listen to the support among citizens for Antigone and his advisors, particularly Haemon, the Chorus and Tiresias, when they point out his flaw in creating the law to deny Polyneices a burial. Similarly, Lear fails to take advice from the Fool and Kent when they point out his error in acting rashly and abdicating his throne to his two malevolent daughters. Lear also ignores the interests of his subjects, as splitting up the country and appointing Goneril and Regan as leaders would lead to a near anarchic society.
Each king fails also to abide by powers bigger than themselves.
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