Oedipus Leadership Qualities

Throughout the past decades, the greatest leaders of all time have been listened to and admired upon by the world. A leader can possess many qualities; however, there are only a few qualities that help outperform a leader to be a great one. Thus, the question that comes to mind is “What are the qualities that make a great leader?” A great leader puts the people’s interests above his/her own. A great leader is also true to his/her word even when the circumstances are complicated. Additionally, a great leader finds solutions to seemingly insoluble problems. A great leader puts the people’s interests above his/her own. There are times when a leader must decide whether to risk his/her life for the best of the people and his/her decision could
forever impact the outcome of their victory. Nelson Mandela proved to be a leading example when he risked his life by being imprisoned by the pro-apartheid government in South Africa. He survived nearly three decades that consisted of demanding labor, harsh conditions, and mistreatment (Meredith 281-283). Mandela sacrificed his freedom and embraced his prison sentence, so that his supporters didn’t have to be put through the same torment as him. He believed that black South Africans deserved equal rights and representation just as the white race. He was willing to leave behind his life to spend an original decision of a life sentence in prison. “‘I cherish my own freedom dearly, but I care even more for your freedom,’” Mandela had written in a letter in response to the apartheid government offering to release him under certain conditions (355-356). If he didn’t accept his imprisonment, then the result of his victory would have been completely different. Upon his release, he served as the first black president of South Africa and emerged as a symbol of freedom. Others may view their situations differently than those of a great leader. He/she would not be willing to listen to what the people have to say, but rather what would be best for him/her. No one fits more perfectly for this description like Creon from Sophocles’ play Antigone. In Antigone, Creon wanted Antigone to be punished for burying her brother Polynices and performing the ritual rites (67-68). In the perspectives of the people, her actions seemed appropriate for their culture, but for Creon he did not want her brother to be buried for attacking Thebes. Creon claimed that his orders are superior to what the people of Thebes consider right, since he is the king (94). He gave no importance whatsoever to the insights of the people, therefore making him a poor leader. A great leader is true to his/her word even when the circumstances are complicated.
Great leaders must be sincere when they are fulfilling to commitment. In Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus, the setting was several years after Oedipus declared himself in exile. He proclaimed to King Theseus that he desired to be buried in Colonus and that this burial location would bring protection to the city of Athens. Theseus not only ensured Oedipus that no harm would come to him, but also granted him full citizenship, despite of the risk of war with Thebes (323). When Creon arrived to take Oedipus and his daughters back to Thebes, Theseus appeared on time to stop him and his guards. Theseus kept his promise under harsh
complications. At times it is troublesome to keep to one’s word when the results could be punishable. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Thebes was in chaos since the killer of King Laius still remained uncaptured. Oedipus proclaimed that the killer of Laius must be captured and sentenced to exile in order to restore peace in Thebes (171). However, Oedipus unknowingly was the actual murderer. When it was revealed to the public that Oedipus killed Laius, he was insistent in putting himself in exile. He did not want to disappoint the people of Thebes as their shameful king; therefore, he decided to pursue his own punishment (245-246). This was a very challenging decision, but Oedipus immediately knew he had to respect his word and his people. A great leader finds solutions to seemingly insoluble problems.
The Great Depression had erupted massively in the United States and had caused many disorders. Countless Americans were losing their jobs and the economy had a drastic downfall. The Great Depression had a severe effect that many lost hope that it was capable to be solved. President Franklin D. Roosevelt instantly was determined to rebuild the nation. He established the New Deal, a series of programs that helped citizens obtain new jobs and created several laws such as the Social Security Act (Smith 770-776, 861). He also managed to raise the spirits of the people and restore their confidence via the Fireside Chats (1162). Arthur Krock, The New York Times journalist during Roosevelt’s presidency, remarked that the New Deal was “‘the most overwhelming victory of American politics’” (853). Without President Roosevelt’s actions, the Great Depression would have continued for a longer period of
time. It is a great, complexed task to find solutions when the problem seems unable to be resolved. There is always a hope that one person has the certain skills to fix a particular dilemma. One man who was a leading example to many is Mahatma Gandhi. Years after racial discrimination, India longed to be independent from British rule. Gandhi took initiative to organize non-violent protests, a solution that seemed unrealistic to gain success. His first resistance movement against the British government was a suspension of economic activity, such as Indian businesses not being opened and employees not going to work (Fischer 225). If he did not arrange this political act, then the twenty-eight years of struggle would not have victoriously resulted in the independence of India. Leaders revolve all around us, but only a few have earned the title to be called great ones. These great leaders acquired certain qualities that continue to have an influential effect on others as well. Nelson Mandela proved that one great quality to possess is to position the people’s interests above his own, unlike Creon from the Sophocles’ play. Theseus and Oedipus demonstrated that great leaders always stay true to their words. Furthermore, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mahatma Gandhi proved that finding solutions to seemingly insoluble problems is an admiring quality of a great leader. Without all the remarkable qualities of these leaders, the world would have merely been a mediocre one to live in.