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Leadership in The Iliad

Considered a masterpiece of classical literature, The Iliad features several characters that serve as leaders towards other lesser characters. Traditionally believed to be written by the legendary poet Homer of antiquity, it is now more common thought that The Iliad, along its successor, The Odyssey, is a conglomeration of many ancient writers' works. Nonetheless, it is still one of the most commonly studied books in historic literature, and is still used as a source when researching the Trojan War. The heroes of Homeric literature often share common features. All have a great power, a crucial weakness, and some sort of position of leadership. Along with this, Homeric heroes very rarely or very subtly experience character development. Three primary heroes are presented in The Iliad: Achilles, a glory-seeking Achaean and perhaps the greatest hero of the Trojan War; Agamemnon, the cunning, though prideful, leader of the Achaean forces; and Hector, a mighty Trojan warrior sometimes stricken with tactless behavior. Although Achilles, Agamemnon, and Hector may represent archetypical heroes, and they may present themselves as brave and clever leaders, they fail to fit the archetypical description of a model leader, each possessing a crucial flaw.

Set nine years into the Trojan War, Achilles and Agamemnon, leading the Achaean forces, attack the city of Chryse (a Trojan ally) and kidnap some of their women; a plague is then sent upon the Achaean army by Apollo, sympathetic towards Chryse. In attempt to end the plague, Achilles has his kidnapped woman taken from him, causing him to vow against the war, the Achaeans, and Agamemnon. As a result of this, he causes the god Zeus to join the Trojan side. With Achilles no longer fighting, and Zeus against him, the Achaeans reach the brink of complete failure. After Achilles' friend Patroclus is killed by Hector, Achilles regains the inspiration to fight and reconciles with Agamemnon. Achilles fury in the subsequent battle results in the slaughter of many Trojans. Refusing to withdraw, Hector and Achilles are forced into a duel, with Achilles eventually being victorious. After capturing the body of Hector and desecrating it, it is decided by the Gods that the once great hero deserves a suitable burial. King Priam of Troy, along with the god Hermes as escort, goes to the Achaean camp to retrieve the body. Inspiring the memory of Achilles' father, Achilles is greatly moved and agrees to return the body. The epic tale ends with the Trojans and Achaeans agreeing to a temporary truce.

Achilles is likely Homer's most famous hero of all. He acquired his superhuman strength from his divine ancestry. Though he is a great warrior and leader on the battlefield, his personality still contains crucial flaws which keep him from acting with honor and integrity. His pride, once collided with Agamemnon's, resulted in a riff between Achilles and the war itself. He is driven by the pure desires to kill, to gain wealth, and to maintain his image. He fears no one, even fighting the river god Xanthus. Opponents cower at his sights and allies rally at his presence. It is only at the end of the story when any sort of compassion is seen in him (in giving Hector to Priam). Achilles fits the archetype of a classical hero and warrior leader.

Similar to Achilles, Agamemnon possesses many of the qualities of a Homeric hero. Agamemnon is cunning, though many times his talent is served for personal gain (often influencing others to for his own benefit). He also is the leader of the Achaean army, though his stubborn choices have come to damage his men. His pride is what offended Achilles to leave his comrades. Plunder gained through battle rouses his greed, as he often claims much of it (although he personally does little actual fighting). Agamemnon also possesses a high sense of self; although it was the kidnapping of his niece that leads to the outbreak of the Trojan War, he claims himself as the leader of the Achaeans, as opposed to his brother. Agamemnon also possesses somewhat higher intellect and higher control of emotions than Achilles, as he is able to differentiate details, while Achilles emotions simplify most problems into one option or another. While a cunning leader, Agamemnon also is egotistical and manipulative, making him a less sympathetic character than Achilles.

The powerful warrior Hector served as a leader for the Trojans army. Only Achilles proved to be a match for Hector, and in many ways what Achilles was for the Achaeans, Hector was for the Trojans. Hector wreaked chaos in battle, slaughtering any Achaeans in his vicinity. Hector destroyed an Achaean ship by setting it aflame (the only Trojan to do so), and personally killed Patroclus, and great Achaean warrior himself. Still, Hector, like the other Homeric heroes, possesses flaws in leadership. He reveals some sort of cowardice when faced against Great Ajax, a mighty Achaean war second only to Achilles in greatness. When emotional, he reveals a sense of cruelty when he threatens his enemies. Hector's confidence often leads to foolish underestimations. While reckless, he lacks a quality that the Achaean heroes possess: arrogance. Hector is shown to love his family and country, as he is defending it. He is revealed as a tragic hero, when faced against a mightier opponent than he and abandoned by the gods, but still refuses withdrawal. While a great hero, despite his best attempts, Hector fails to become a perfect leader.

Although Achilles, Agamemnon, and Hector all represent the epitome of a Homeric hero, and would also embody the archetypical. All possess essential components of a leader, such as bravery, cunning, and the pursuit of glory, though all possess a balancing flaw to each characteristic (for example, greed, pride, or rage). These three warriors all possess qualities which bring them in similar categorization, all fitting the Homeric trend. The qualities of The Iliad's main characters are truly one on the epic's most important principles.

-Anonymous No Copyright