Ego-Centered Rulers Katelyn White College

An ego-centered person will always make their decisions based off what will conserve their reputation. Creon, an ego-centered ruler, feels that he must obey the laws set in place by the Gods and does not try to be open minded for his family. Polly, who is also an ego-centered ruler of the family, feels that she must upkeep her republican image and lies to herself, her family, and others in order to do so. Both Brooke and Antigone attempt to strip away from this ego-centered mentality and face the true reality of what is going on in their lives. They are family centered characters and want to do what they think is best for them, while Creon and Polly make their decisions based off how it will portray their social image. In Jon Baitz’s Other Desert Cities and Sophicles’ Antigone, both plays share an ego-centered ruler whose attempt to conserve their reputation is what causes conflict within the family realm and the society that they are a part of.

Creon is very much full of his ego and will do anything to protect his reputation as a leader. He does not attempt to keep an open mind and is very stubborn even when his own family is at stake. This is shown evidently when Creon says to the chorus, “This girl was a complete expert in...