The Characteristics Of Poor Leadership In Homer's The Iliad

Poor leadership is devastating in The Iliad. Homer recognizes this, making a particular effort to demonstrate what traits constitute effective leadership. It is crucial, therefore, to determine exactly how Homer presents this idea in order to gain a coherent understanding of his beliefs. With Homer’s convictions in mind, the individual gifts of these war leaders shine rather brightly. One can then begin to analyze them, deciding for oneself who fits Homer’s ideas the best. Assuredly, each of the Iliadic leaders have their particular talents, but they lack a certain well roundedness: What Ajax has in brute strength, he lacks in intelligence. What Achilles has in fighting skill, he lacks in his inability to check his anger. Logically, the best …show more content…
His friends acknowledge and praise him for it, as does Homer. In fact, his character portrayal is so prevalent that Homer seems to use Odysseus to embody the merits of cunning and rhetoric, thus showing what he believes to be apart of a leader 's character. The same logic can be applied to the other Achaean leaders: Homer uses Ajax to show the value of brute strength, and Diomedes to show good character and fighting skill. From these ideas, some of the main concepts of Homeric leadership become evident: A leader, as defined by Homer, is one who is cunning, well spoken, brave, physically strong, skilled in combat, and encouraging on the …show more content…
Namely, his interaction with his wife, Andromache, and their infant child. Homer depicts Hektor taking off his helmet to hold his son, “tossing him in his arms and kissing him.” Andromache then implores him to stay with her. Hektor explains how deeply he craves to stay, but if he shrank from the fight, the shame would be unbearable. Homer brings to light Hektor’s deep sense of duty to his state which is the context for a large portion of desire he has for honor and glory. This is the key difference between Hektor and other leaders in the Iliad. His desire for glory is proportional to his sense of duty to his state; for him, the two are almost synonymous. This becomes evident when Hektor prays that his child will exceed himself in his own abilities, pleading that he will return from battle with “blooded spoils, and delight the heart of his mother.” Hektor, out of selfless love for his son, prays that he will become more glorious than himself in battle, as if glory were a good in and of itself to be obtained. Duty to the state is treated in the same way: it is a virtue that one should pursue. In this specific context, the object of Hektor’s selflessness is Troy and the gain of honor in defending it. Because he thinks of glory this way, his abilities as a leader are enhanced. For leadership, by nature, is a selfless act; the leader brings those he leads to an end that is in the best interest of