Leadership in Iliad

The Headstrong and the Model Commander

The Achaian army finishes breakfast, dons their armor and marches out onto the field. They then charge ferociously, screaming as loudly as they can, and thrusting their spears and swords into the flesh of any Trojan that steps into their path. Later, the Trojan army takes control of the battlefield. The soldiers grin as they tear the armor off their fallen enemies, they cheer and then push forward through the walls that the Greeks had previously depended on for safety. Yet, the soldiers do not simultaneously decide to do these things, and neither side is always so willing to die. Instead, leaders make the soldiers’ decisions; leaders motivate the crowds of men into a bloodthirsty crave. If there are no leaders in the Trojan War, the Greeks would probably just return home, if they had even come over in the first place, and the Trojans would be safe in their homes. The Iliad of Homer is full of important leaders who keep the war moving and the soldiers fighting. These men make themselves exemplar warriors by taking charge. They guide the behavior of their armies, inspire them, command them and make the big decisions quickly, but with thought. Most of the lead

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They respect their comrades, stand with them at battle, avoid excessive cruelty and injustice and follow the social and cultural ideas of their people. ” He prepares the entire army for war. Agamemnon chooses to be reimbursed with Achilles’ prize, Briseis. Even when Achilles does finally return, Agamemnon never looks at him directly and never fully apologizes.

Odysseus, Diomedes, Aias, Achilles and Aeneas are all such men of honor. The reader is meant to feel extreme pity for if not only good Hektor and his family, but for all the Trojans because of what Hektor has said. Yet, in contrast to Agamemnon, Hektor does not whine, or lie for that matter, about the gods’ intervention. Tragically, Achilles, a symbol of rage and anger, slaughters Hektor, a symbol of humanity, home, love and self-control. Finally, Athena tricks him into turning and facing Achilles and even when Hektor realizes what has happened, he does not turn and run again. Most of the leaders in The Iliad are heroes too. Yet, the soldiers do not simultaneously decide to do these things, and neither side is always so willing to die. ” As their leader, he will take punishment for what he has done; as a hero, he will die in combat. He tells them that the dream is false and that they are going home: “Come then, do as I say, let us be won over; let us run away with our ships to the beloved land of our fathers (139-140, Book II). Hektor then finds Paris and Helen and is extremely angry, with reason. He calls out to the heroes by name, giving some praise, giving others advice, all the time trying not to offend anyone directly.

Approximate Word count = 7031
Approximate Pages = 28 (250 words per page double spaced)

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