Agamemnon Anger Analysis

Agamemnon’s Anger Issues 101
Throughout The Iliad, multiple characters express the emotion of rage, leading to conflicts in the epic poem. Agamemnon is one of the primary examples whose enragement impacts himself as well as others. He fails to recognize that his anger and selfishness negatively impacts everyone around him. For one to lead effectively, an ability to inspire others is critical, however Agamemnon’s failure to inspire his soldiers is primarily due to his pride. Agamemnon's enraged and selfish actions in regards to Achilles leads him to inadvertently demolish his army and further diminish his credibility as a leader, therefore revealing how hubris negatively affects one’s ability to lead effectively. Agamemnon’s bitterness

Agamemnon further shows a weakness when he commands his soldiers to retreat from the Trojans. He exclaims to the Argives, “‘Cut and run! Sail home to the fatherland we love! We’ll never take the broad streets of Troy’” (9.28, 31-32). Agamemnon is considered to be an unsteady leader who is weighed down with significant responsibility and power. Agamemnon’s responsibility and power eventually overwhelms him and later on, the audience begins to see his vulnerability. The transformation of Agamemnon’s emotions ultimately leads to the outcome in his credibility. When Agamemnon tells his men to withdraw from war, he has become fearful that the Trojans will win the war. Rather than losing his honor, he would rather have his army retreat, than fight and die. This hinders his credibility as a leader because, rather than staying and fighting, Agamemnon is a coward, and wants to leave with his Argives. Along with his self-pride interfering with his leadership, wise Nestor interferes and tells Agamemnon to apologize to Achilles for all the destruction he has caused. Nestor criticizes him of his hubris and tells him, “‘I urged you against it, strenuously. But you, you gave way to your overbearing anger, disgraced a great man the gods themselves esteem-- you seized his gift of honor and keep her still’” (9.129-132). For the first time, someone blames Agamemnon for his own self-pride. Nestor tells Agamemnon to apologize to Achilles and to acknowledge his own fault. When Nestor tells Agamemnon to apologize, the audience can see Agamemnon should take responsibility for his actions. Nestor tells Agamemnon that it was his own fault that he was angry and he should not blame it on the gods. Wise Nestor told Agamemnon to not act against Achilles, but since he did, he is in a conflict with Achilles.