Can Anarchy Rule
Can Anarchy Rule? ... Anarchy can mean a lack of government, a lack of order, and/or a chaotic state. ... In Sophocles’ play Antigone, Creon the ruler of Thebes, describes anarchy as a “great evil” that causes nothing more than destruction and death. ... How ironic it is, to see anarchy, the thing that Creon hated most, corrupt him and bring destruction to his house. Taking in Sophocles’ ideas about anarchy and applying them to Henry David Thoreau’s ideas about governance can help show us what Thoreau means when he says “…government is best which governs not at all” (Thoreau 1331). ... Anarchy differs from anarchism in that anarchy means no form of government, causing disorder and chaos to be the rulers. ... While anarchy corrupted and destroyed Thebes, anarchism helped Thoreau be wise; a wisdom in which Creon so desperately sought. While Creon supported anarchy in his actions, Thoreau’s actions supported anarchism. ... Creon created the “unjust” law to stop anarchy from occurring. ... In his actions, Creon went against the gods and caused anarchy to befall upon his family and state. ... Creon put himself on the same level as the gods and therefore became an anarchist, but when he used his power to make a law that defied the gods he was using anarchy against the entire Greek system of beliefs. ... Creon hated anarchy but had in fact created it when he went against the highest authority. “Anarchy, anarchy! ... Creon abused his authority and thus created anarchy. Applying this to “Civil Disobedience,” Thoreau became an anarchist for advocating the overthrow of the government and trying to undermine authority, but Thoreau did not advocate anarchy. ... Thoreau was an anarchist for his actions, yet these actions did not cause anarchy. Instead, these actions were used to show his disdain for government rule. ... Thoreau wanted the people to rule with each person having an equal amount of power, and each vote being of the same worth.