Homer, Through His Character, Agamemnon, Creates a Better Example of an Ideal Ruler Than Sophicles Creates Through His Character

Humility Makes a Great Leader

Greek literature is often focused on a hero or heroine that seems to exemplify all that is good. These heroes and heroines become someone the readers strive to become.

At times the hero or heroine is a leader of a great army as in Homer’s the Iliad. At times the hero or heroine is someone who does something purely because it is right like

Antigone in Sophicles’ Antigone. Usually with each hero comes an antagonist. Often times, as in Antigone, the hero’s antagonist shows some qualities that should be sought after. Homer writes of a hero and Sophicles writes of a heroine’s antagonist that exemplify characteristics of an ideal ruler. Homer, through his character, Agamemnon, creates a better example of an ideal ruler than Sophicles creates through his character

Creon.

Homer’s the Iliad tells of the army of Achaeans lead by Agamemnon. The war against the city of Troy began when Paris, the Trojan prince, seduced Helen,

Agamemnon’s sister-in-law. The army fights this frivolous war for ten years.

Agamemnon has a dream telling him to arm his men saying “now is your time to capture

Troy” (Homer 2000, 4). Agamemnon decides to hold a council where he tells the council members that he is going to test the men by telling them to go home. The council members are then ordered to persuade them to stay. In effect Agamemnon tells the men a lie. Thus, the frivolous cause of the war and the lie he tells makes Agamemnon a frivolous liar. Creon on the other hand showed through his devotion to the rule of law that he was a man of integrity. Creon made a law forbidding the burial of Polyneices.

Creon then enforced in the law because he believed that being true to the law was more 2 important than an individual. Thus Creon was more devoted to integrity than

Agamemnon.

Another characteristic of an ideal leader is a connection to the divine. In the Iliad

Homer insists that “Kings are bred by Zeus” (Homer 2000, 6). Agamemnon’s connection is not limited to his upbringing. Agamemnon is given the staff from Zeus that gives him the right to make decisions for the people (Homer 2000, 6). This staff is a symbol of

Zeus’ divine right to rule. Agamemnon is also a receiver of revelation. The dream in which Zeus speaks to Agamemnon is an example of this revelation. Agamemnon also communicates with the gods through prayer. When the army is about to go to war

“Agamemnon led them in prayer” (Homer 2000, 8). The connection Agamemnon maintains with the gods shows that he is humble enough to understand that he needs help from a higher source. He understands that he alone cannot take on the responsibility of a whole people. The important relationship with the divine is not evident in Creon’s rule.

Creon claims to listen to the prophet Teiresias; however, Creon listens only when he likes

Teiresias’ council. Creon states, “I’ve always been attentive to your council”. Teiresias then tells him that it is wrong to deny proper burial and that “through your decision. All of the altars of the town are choked”. After hearing this reprimand from the seer, Creon decides to stop listening saying, “I’ve had my share of seers.” (Sophicles 2000, 131). In refusing to listen to the prophet, Creon leaves behind his one connection with the divine.

Therefore, as all good leaders should, Agamemnon remains humble and willing to obey the gods. On the other hand, Creon through his pride and stubbornness cuts all connection to the Gods. 3

The third characteristic of an ideal leader is his ability to create a people that have confidence in him. Agamemnon is thought to be the “best of the Greeks”. After the council, Nestor spoke to the councilmen saying, “If any other Greek told us this dream we would call it a lie and turn our backs on him. But this is a man with the claim to be the best of the Greeks” (Homer 2000, 4). The men Agamemnon lead believed that he was one of the greatest men in their society. This confidence in their leader gave them a basis for their loyalty and obedience. In contrast, Creon ruled a people that thought him a good man yet feared him. The Guard who comes to tell Creon about the burial of

Polyneices, fears that Creon will blame him. Creon’s subjects as well as the guard are afraid of him. Antigone in discussing all of the people that believe that she had acted well states, “A king is fortunate in many ways, and most, that he can act and speak will… they [her supporters] see, and do not say. You have them cowed” (Sophicles 2000, 124).

Creon rules by fear, the rule of a coward. Agamemnon rules a confident people creating the rule of a courageous man. Thus, a good ruler should create confidence rather than fear to lead a people.

In Conclusion, Homer’s hero Agamemnon is a better example of an ideal leader than Sophicles’ antagonist Creon. Agamemnon, though a frivolous liar, understands that he must communicate with the gods. Agamemnon also shows that he rules by the confidence his men have in him. Creon, though a man of integrity, basis his rule on his own thoughts his own ideas rather than consulting the gods. He was a tyrannical ruler ruling by fear. Creon created a world in his mind that made him a sort of god. He felt he was all-knowing he felt he was the final and only authority. Creon’s pride leads to his family’s and ultimately his destruction showing that “great words of men of pride bring 4 greater blows upon them” (Sophicles 2000, 135). Agamemnon is a greater leader than

Creon because he did not let pride eat away at him for “for whoever thinks that he alone is wise, his eloquence, his mind. Above the rest, come the unfolding, shows the emptiness” (Sophicles 2000, 127). In other words, humility is the principle characteristic of an ideal ruler.