According to Woodruff's lecture, (which was really different and entertaining than most lectures) a tyrant shows fear, hubris, and lawlessness. The three plays showed scenarios of how different tyrants can be, but yet show the same characteristics. All three references to tyranny show what a good leader shouldn't demonstrate. To be a good leader one has to have empathetic listening.
In Antigone, Creon showed how he is a tyrant through his excessive pride. He was more concerned on his opinion of running the city, which relates to Covey's point on independent thinking, "I'm going to focus on 'me and mine'." He goes on to mention that people live in an "interdependent reality." Creon was too concerned on his rule that ignored wha
t the people of the city wanted. Because of his pride, he didn't "accept criticism" coming from his own son. (Woodruff) Creon did "not listen with the intent to understand; [he listened] with the intent to reply." (Covey, pg 239) Because Creon thought nothing was above his word, he was only listening to what his son his saying just to defend his decision about Antigone. A good leader must know how to listen with empathy. Empathic listening is "listening with intent to understand." (Covey, pg 240) It relates back to "seeing one side at a time, we blunder. Truth has no perspective." (William Stafford, Woodruff lecture) Good leaders must know how to listen effectively to make a decision best for everyone, not just himself like Creon. He lacked understanding and compassion as a leader and made a terrible choice.
t the people of the city wanted. Because of his pride, he didn't "accept criticism" coming from his own son. (Woodruff) Creon did "not listen with the intent to understand; [he listened] with the intent to reply." (Covey, pg 239) Because Creon thought nothing was above his word, he was only listening to what his son his saying just to defend his decision about Antigone. A good leader must know how to listen with empathy. Empathic listening is "listening with intent to understand." (Covey, pg 240) It relates back to "seeing one side at a time, we blunder. Truth has no perspective." (William Stafford, Woodruff lecture) Good leaders must know how to listen effectively to make a decision best for everyone, not just himself like Creon. He lacked understanding and compassion as a leader and made a terrible choice. In the play Doll's House, Torvald also doesn't listen to his wife with emapthic listening. He was more concerned of what others thought of him. He has already made up his mind calling her an "ignorant child." (Doll's House, Henrick Isben) Torvald was "projecting [his] own thoughts...and 
interpretation [instead] of dealing with the reality inside [her] heart." (Covey, pg 241) Good leaders do not assume what other people's motives are based on their own perceptions. To be a good leader, being a good listnener is key.
interpretation [instead] of dealing with the reality inside [her] heart." (Covey, pg 241) Good leaders do not assume what other people's motives are based on their own perceptions. To be a good leader, being a good listnener is key.Both men lost something in not being good listeners, much less leaders. They were tyrants. One lost the support of a city and his son, the other lost his wife.
Hello Veronica,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog by chance, while I was doing a research about the character Creon, I am supposed to write about him for a Spanish class.
Thanks for your words, they gave me an inspiration. What I think about his character, that this life will pour good and bad people, the sad thing is some people do not realize that they are bad enough or that they are a control freaks. They think that they got the power, it is was so genius of someone like Sophocles to write about such character long time ago, until now we will find such tyrants.
Sincerely,
Dina
Puerto Rico