Compare Aeneas and Odysseus in Their Role As Leaders And Prospective

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

Calypso has kept him for eight years. He appears hopeless and

defeated; not exactly typical leadership qualities. This mirrors the

first appearance of Aeneas, except for the fact he is still amongst

his own men, who is facing fierce sea storms ordered by the goddess

Juno. He too is crying in desperation and appears to have lost all

hope in his destiny:

'A sudden chill went through Aeneas and his limbs grew weak. Groaning,

he lifted his hands palms upward to the stars and cried'

From these first impressions, you would view both men as being

incapable of leading men if they cannot even control their own

emotions. However, this first impression is what allows their eventual

successes to appear even greater.

Aeneas is actively in charge of men from the very start of 'The

Aeneid.' After Neptune causes the ferocious storm to subside, we see

Aeneas and his fellow Trojans land on Libya. It is here that we get

our first glimpse of Aeneas the leader as he immediately checks the

sea for...

... middle of paper ...

...amp and the walls.'

It is clear that both are great leaders in their own rights and

equally suited to their own race. 'The Aeneid' itself tells us that

the Greeks were a much more scheming race and therefore the cunning,

quick witted Odysseus is the ideal leader for their race. The Trojans

on the other hand were a much more trusting city, as we see in their

innocent but foolish acceptance of the scheming Sinon (he let the

Greeks into Troy after gaining the Trojans sympathy and trust.)

However, trust is not a downfall in Aeneas' case. It is this trust

that allows him to be such a pious man; he takes the advice of the

gods even if there is doubt in his mind. His fatherly care for his men

and careful planning for war is ideally suited to the Trojan race.

Both men live up to the reputations they have as great leaders, and

each is successful in their quests.