Compare Aeneas and Odysseus in Their Role As Leaders And Prospective
Hero's?
Virgil's 'Aeneid' and Homer's 'Odyssey' are two very different stories, told from opposing viewpoints: that of the Trojans in 'The
Aeneid,' and of the Greeks in 'The Odyssey.' The two leaders, Aeneas and Odysseus, that feature are therefore very different in their approach to leadership. However, despite their differences they both rise to the challenges set to them as true leaders.
In each work, the first time the great leaders feature, the first impression given of each is hardly one of a strong leader and future hero. When we first meet the Greek hero, Odysseus, he is sitting on a rock despairing on the island of Ogygia, where the demi-goddess
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This gives us the impression he was perhaps not such a caring leader as Aeneas. It is not that he appears a selfish leader in the flash backs, but we must remember that
Odysseus himself is telling the stories and may well have enhanced his own greatness. A clear example of him putting his own safety before his men's is when they reach Circe's island and he sends one of his men to check the island for any possible hostilities.
Aeneas and Odysseus's aims in the works are similar in the sense both men wish to reach their homeland. However, Aeneas is not trying to reach Troy but a found a new homeland for his race, which makes his journey appear much more of a challenge. However, we learn from
Odysseus account that his journey has been far from easy. He has faced many fearful creatures and challenges, and been detained in Ogygia for eight years before finally being allowed to reach home. In his encounter with the Cyclops, he is shown to be a very shrewd, cunning leader. He manages to contract a plan to escape from the Cyclops cave before any more of his rapidly deteriorating army are eaten. He is clearly very passionate for success and kleos, which was a typical
Greek characteristic. It is no doubt that his respect for
Leadership appears multiple times throughout the story and is a common theme throughout. One of the most important times leadership was shown was when they had been captured by the cyclops near the beginning when they wanted help getting home and Odysseus had lead his men with courage even though they were terrified. “Now by the gods, I drove my big hand spike deep in the embers, charring it again, and cheered my men along with battle talk to keep their courage up:no quitting now.” (p# 904) This particular quote is quite important because the men needed to do this to escape, but if they were to fail they would most definitely die. They were scared and Odysseus is the one who decided to keep their courage up. In modern times we rely on leaders but sometimes they can act foolish. It is nice to know that the king of a country was able to take such a high amount of
his purpose. Aeneas is then left with the duty of leaving Carthage and Dido behind, whereas Odysseus is more subject to each gods will. The idea of an inevitable and
The first half of the Aeneid is very reflective of the Odyssey so it is only fitting that Aeneas be compared to Odysseus first. Odysseus is known across greece for his intelligence and cunning wit. Odysseus uses this to gain glory on the battlefield during the trojan war and later to work his way home to his wife and his son. During Aeneas travels he tells his men “ Through all sorts of perils, through countless dangers, we are headed for Latium, where the Fates promise us a peaceful home” (page 7-8). He uses his pietas to motivate his group of refugees after the trials they faced at sea. Odysseus gave a similar speech after his encounter with Scylla, but he told
Peter Drucker said, “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results, not attributes.” Homer proves this point in The Odyssey, which is an epic poem, and the main character is Odysseus. Odysseus is on his way back from the Trojan War and everyone returns back to Ithaca beside him, he is being held against his will, by Calypso, on Ogygia. He soon will be faced with problems that come about all because of himself. Some people like Odysseus are not fit to be a leader because he is arrogant, foolish, and a liar.
These two men share many characteristics, but one of their most important ones is their great leadership. Odysseus has led his men since the start of the Trojan War, and even though he has led different groups of men, they all listen to and respect him. He portrays this leadership throughout the entirety of The Odyssey, but it is shown most clearly when he is ordering his men to keep going even though
When we think of leadership, what comes to mind? Is it the bold, charismatic, and passionate person who takes the group on their back? Or is it really the more quiet and realistic leader who has a compromising attitude? Most people will think of a loud and passionate person who can grab the attention of an audience. But leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Leadership is defined by dictionary.com as the ability to guide or influence others to achieve a common goal. Although the term leader is used in our everyday lives, many people mistake it for close synonyms. Not all leaders have to be the boisterous, bold, and burly people that most people think of them to be. More often than not, a leader will be the commanding one in the group. But there
Throughout the time being on this island full of cyclops, Odysseus has showed his ability to think of a well put together plan. The next way Odysseus shows he is a great leader was how quick he was to react to a situation. In book X, lines 137-146 Odysseus shows his skill of reacting quickly when they were on the island and they started getting slaughtered but Odysseus got his men out of there. There was much chaos and commotion but Odysseus figured out what he needed to do to get his men out of there quickly and still alive. He even made a quick decision to cut the rope to his own ship leaving some men behind but this in the end saved more men rather than if they had stayed trying to fight back. Also in book X, lines 287-290 Odysseus shows his skills when one of his men come running back after the other men got turned to pigs by the girl. Right as Odysseus heard of this he grabbed his bow and was about to head out. Instead of Odysseus leaving those men there and sailing away he tries to go fight
In the story “The Odyssey”, by Homer, Odysseus improves his leadership abilities from not caring about his men and being selfish to thinking for his men’s lives before his own. First, during Odysseus’ visit to the Cyclops' Cave, Odysseus wants to stay to fill his desire to “see the caveman” but because of this, many of Odysseus’ men end up being killed by the Cyclops (Homer 958). Therefore, Odysseus is selfish and thinks of his personal desire to see the cyclops over his men’s lives. A good leader would have thought about his men first and left the Cyclops’ Cave as soon as possible. Odysseus’ poor leadership is on the reasons that his journey is difficult.
Everyone is capable of being affectionate, positive, kind, and caring. But with those qualities comes pride, envy, greed, and wrath. The Odyssey is a myth formed about the absurd journey of the human, Odysseus. As a hero from the Trojan War, his mission was to bring his men back home after ten years of hardship. Little did he know, only half of his expedition was over. Odysseus faced off against the burly Laestrygonians, the atrocious Scylla, and the desperate Calypso. He had many peaks and valleys throughout his journey, solely caused by his positive and negative qualities as a leader. In the story of the “Odyssey,” the hero Odysseus embodies an ineffective and effective leader. Odysseus is strategic in navigating the obstacles he faces, however, he is selfish in his desires, and his ego prompts failure, which demonstrates to the reader the Greek
One eyed monsters, witches, sea creatures, and beautiful women all test a leaders ability to command and direct his men down the correct path that benefits all. In Homer’s epic poem,”The Odyssey”, the great leader Odysseus battles in and wins the Trojan War. Odysseus angers the gods with his hubris and as a result he will face life threatening and dangerous situations during his travels back home to Ithaca. Once returning he fights over a hundred men who are trying to take his throne. Odysseus is a good leader as seen through his perseverance, ability to think ahead, and intelligence.
In the first few books Odysseus is seen as a strong, brave, courageous leader, as well as an awesome fighter. I believe the impression of him continues to show throughout Books 6-10. In fact, in Book 9 when he went to explore the land where the Cyclopes lived it took lots of courage to injure the Cyclopes the way he did then and then a great deal of intelligence to strap his men to the underside of the heard, so they could escape. Although he lost have the men he took with him on his exploration half of them did survive because he thought of away to escape. Yes, Odysseus made some bad decisions and got some of his crew killed, but he also made someone good decisions and some of them survived. We all have to make choices and sometimes they
In The Odyssey, Odysseus is clearly the main character. As the main character he has many leadership roles, He is the leader of his men in the military, a leader of his son later on in the book, and lastly he is a leader to his wife as a husband. Those are the leadership roles that will be touched on in the analysis. Odysseus is a very resectable man who usually has good morals but will do extreme things to get home to save his wife from the suitors of Ithaca, and to protect his men on the journey back ( although sadly they would not make it because they angered a god after eating his cattle ). Early in the book Odysseus is introduced by recounting his journey home from the Trojan War, he is leading men back from the battle that he fought in the Illiad.
To begin, Odysseus is a good leader because when they went to sirens and he had to sacrifice six of his men so the rest of them could live. In the story of sirens Odysseus and his men continue there way home but stop at the island Aeaea to burry his friend Elpenor. While leaving Circe comes to tell them that in order to make it
The first attribute that makes Odysseus a great leader is the previously mentioned resolve. It is the key for motivating team members, and producing results. Without “solid faith in [their] ideals” (Gavril qtd. in Gleeson 7), no leader can accomplish their goals. Only when both leader and followers believe in the cause, can the group take action. Odysseus has this steadfast determination. He never strayed from his mission of bringing everyone home, even “though he find a house of gold” (Homer 37). Many times his will was challenged when he was offered a safe, happy place to live, but he did not succumb to those temptations. He
A hero can possess many qualities devotion, humility, cleverness, faithfulness, sacrifice, honor, perhaps even pride. Odysseus and Aeneas were on opposing side of the Trojan war but are both considered heroes by their people. Odysseus for penetrating the trojan city and Aeneas for delivering the Trojan people to Italy. Anyone can become a hero in any situation .