When reading "Antigone" by Sophocles, one cannot help but to be drawn to the character of Kreon, the king of Thebes. It is nearly impossible to imagine such a tyrant in today's world. Kreon rules his kingdom through obedience and fear, not by cooperation with his subjects. It is wonderful that in today's generally democratic world, there are no rulers who share traits with Kreon, or are there? Two twenty-first century rulers who share traits with King Kreon of Thebes are George W. Bush of the United States, and Saddam Hussein, formerly of Iraq.

King Kreon had a very controversial rise to power. When Kreon's sister, Queen Jocasta, found out that her husband is also her son, she hanged herself. When her husband/son Oedipus discovers the news, he is exiled and left to die. After Kreon's sister and brother-in-law are dead, his two nephews decide to share...