Homer's Odyssey
In this module we looked at several books from Homer's Odyssey and examined the leadership of Odysseus and Telemachus. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the story of Odysseus' journey home after sacking Troy and the hardships of that long journey as well as the troubles plaguing Odysseus' home. We are tasked with examining Odysseus' own actions and behavior as the leader of his men. The issue of blame and responsibility comes up in the first book of the Odyssey. Athena accuses Zeus of being responsible for Odysseus plight, Zeus corrects her and names Poseidon as the cause. Indeed Odysseus did bling the Cyclops and son of Poseidon. But who was to blame for Odysseus' wary journey, and narrow return to Ithaca. Was it his deed towards Polyphemus, leaving the giant blind? Or was it Odysseus' fault for boasting towards the giant of his real name, even when his guile and silence has caused him to escape? In the first book of the epic, we see a number of accusations being cast between the suitors of Odysseus' wife, Penelope and his son, Telemachus. The wooers quarrel with the young prince, blaming Penelope for her trickery. Weaving her robe during the day and unweaving it by night in order to avoid marrying one of the men that squander her substance and dishonor her home.
We see the kind of man Odysseus is as well. Very early on in the Odyssey, about the first 100 lines we see Odysseus referrd to by 3 different characteristics:
- Wise Odysseus
- God-like Odysseus
- Odysseus of steadfast heart.
Class session Tuesday 11/15 9:40-11am
Here is the example of Athena activating Telemachus to the leadership role. Odysseus had been gone at war for twenty years and Telemachus had grew into a young man of stature, but in his eyes and in the eyes of the suitors occupying his home he was still a young man. Indeed he was untraveled and inexperienced and without respect in his own home, however we see Athena placing courage in his heart to do several things:
- To call an assembly of the suitors
- Leave his home and travel abroad by sea
- Seek news of his father’s return
To leave his home and travel by sea was yet another risk, for he would have to obtain a ship, with men to row over the sea. It was dangerous for him to be so inexperienced at sea. He could perish. Also he needed to fill a leadership role here by commanding a vessel and men he did not have and who my have not known him or not respected him in the same capacity of Odysseus.
Lastly, seeking news of his father’s return from Troy would have signaled to his enemies (suitors) what he intended to accomplish and would place them on guard, lest he ascend the throne of his father. It was mentioned in the reading, after Telemachus had given the speech at the assembly that the suitors were fascinated with Penelope because they saw her as foremost among women. This was the given reason for their persistent advances. However I do suspect that a throne left open for twenty years, without any news of Odysseus return or survival, would have proved incentive enough for any of the suitors to pursue Penelope
Class Thursday 11/17 9:40-11am & Private study 5pm-9pm
All this presented extraordinary circumstances for Telemachus. As warned by his maid Eurycleia when she told him that the wooers would surely plan his demise when he left. But here is where the act of Activation that we covered came into play. Telemachus was able to avail the fears of Eurycleia as he informed her of his divine purpose. It is interesting to see how this form of activation takes place to encourage leadership. It can come in two different forms i presume. Activation as encouragement to an individual to strengthen them toward the role, and secondly, activation in the form where an individual may have not even imagined themselves in that role at all.
Here see can try to determine which form of Activation Telemachus received from Athena. Dr. Sandridge informed that some scholars argued that Telemachus did not image himself in that leadership role and was still considering himself a child in Ithaca awaiting his father’s return. In this case he would have needed both types of activation, never imaging himself in the leadership role and filling the shoes of this father. However the other school of thought-- and the one I tend to agree with-- is what Dr. Sandridge articulated when he said that Telemachus’ dreaming about this father coming home was not mere vain imaginings of a child, but are the beginnings of him thinking, “what would m father do in this situation?” He imagined Odysseus returning to Ithaca and slaying all the suitors. This may have not been him wanted to be saved, but the beginnings of what he himself was wishing for the suitors, and the earl stages of seeing himself in his father, the slayer of the suitors.
The evidence Dr. Sandridge points toward that validates his claim is that Athena comes to Telemachus and gives him even more thought about his father. If part of her activation process involved Telemachus having more thoughts on Odysseus as before, it is safe to assume that the thoughts on his father was a necessary prerequisite of Telemachus stepping up and filling his father’s shoes. My understanding is that Athena did not offer him outright knowledge that his father was coming home, but instead didn't allow him to be strengthened by this hope but gave him the mission of going to Pylos and Sparta, for news of his father's return, saying that if he should find it true that Odysseus perished to come home and build him a funeral pyre and give him the proper rights of funeral. This in itself would have forced Telemachus to not rel on false or vain hope, but would have encouraged him to think about the steps that would follow him return home, if his father was dead. He would have already given the speech at assemble and his return home, and the honor given to Odysseus in burial rights would have signaled a major shift in the household of Penelope and Telemachus status as a man within the household.
This process of activation was the most important aspect within this module for me because it makes me think about manhood and all the issues that come along with it. It makes me think about coming of age. In Jewish culture you have a bar mitzvah and you're now a man. In american culture you turn 18 and them 21 and you are considered legal “grown”. Coming from Trinidad it makes me wonder what is our threshold of adulthood. And being a man in a family of women it makes me think about the age-- although the demarcation is blurred-- that your family sees you as an adult, not only capable of making your own decisions, but regard your capability enough that the can take your advice if offered or solicited.
In my culture, and black American culture there is an adage that adults go by which says to children, “don’t get into adult conversations.” It is expressed when two adults are speaking and a child overhears them and inputs into the conversation. It is an overstepping of boundaries. As a child grown they will hear this at various times in life even up until and past the age of 21. It is the kid version for “mind your own business” and children are encouraged that if they should find themselves in a room with adults speaking, to not appear to listen to the conversation, input themselves in it in anyway, especially if to correct something the adult has said mistakenly or even to look at adults in the mouth. Children are to be seen (playing) but not heard.
This is interesting in the case of Telemachus in that he calls an assembly and speaks ”boldly” to those present. He is berated by Antonius and Eurymachus and basically told he has no place to speak (though their attendance at the assemble speaks the contrary). Yet Telemachus is given some respect by Lord Halitherses. Halitherses announces as a seer, the sign sent by Zeus in the form of twin eagles flying over the assembly, tearing at each others necks. Here we see Telemachus in that beginning or middle stage of adulthood, his opinion being respected by some yet by others it is seen as unfounded in youth and inexperience.
On Tuesday’s class we went over the Nurturing of Global Leaders touching briefly on The Howard University Mission and the Uniprez dialogue. We reviewed Xenophon’s Education of Cyrus, exploring His education in Perisia (learning justice agoge and obedience to law and tradition). His education in Media (Learning how adorn himself in makeup, jewelry, fancy robes and expensive garbs, and even high heels. Most importantly his ability and development to hunt beasts in the wild from horseback. Learning how to ride a horse is symbolic for being able to wield power. Being able to hunt from horseback is representative for being able to tame and subdue a wild and chaotic world. This is the parallel between these modules. Both Cyrus and Telemachus have to be able to tame this wild, chaotic world. With Cyrus, it is the actual wild his household in Persia and his eventual vast military conquest; in Telemachus’ case it is the wild and uncontrolled wooers in his household. Both deal with coming to manhood, although in Cyrus’ education the line is clearly drawn between being a boy, young adult, mature adult and elder based on age and discipline, Telemachus must discover this boundary for himself or with the help of Athena. This also parallels with the example of my private study.
The clear demarcation of American society in age and legal rights, and the blurred boundary in the culture of Trinidad where respect and acknowledge from peers and family signal more to adulthood than the state’s age limit (18). America is Cyrus, Trinidad is Telemachus.
In class as stated before we were tasked with looking at different institutions commitment to developing global leaders. We were tasked with coming up with our own global leadership organization. Expressing several facets the institution would differ on. Name, Age of attendees, Admission requirements for students, Teacher qualifications, and structural architecture of buildings.
Name: The Mandalas. A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian religions, representing the universe. In common use, “mandala” has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe. This is what our global leadership institution would represent. A microcosm of the universe in every facet.
The students would be admitted from ages 11-13. An age where their habits can still be molded.
They would have to go through an interview of why they wanted to become a Mandala, what are the leaders they look up to, how have they demonstrated leadership in their former years.
Their parents would also have to undergo an interview process and answer why they want their child to attend, give an account of what they have done to foster their child’s interest in leadership. And they would also have to commit to visiting their children every 3 months.
Teachers would need to be trained in the art of teaching and not merely be experts in their field. They would have to have had leadership roles either of major corporations and departments or in foreign service positions.
The Buildings would be dedicated to providing the flow of natural air in the warmer months, refreshing the classes and offices. It would be modern with natural materials. Wood and stone.
In Thursday’s class, we were asked to explore a specific topic of this module related to leadership, pick a passage that relates to that specific topic, state how the topic relates to leadership and list important questions that further examine this topic:
My Topic was coming to the age of leadership and the specific point at which a boy becomes a man.
The passages of reading I examined looked at how Telemachus viewed himself as unready to fill this role, but in contrast how Athena saw that he could be activated to the role.
This topic relates to leadership because it shows how the next generation of leaders are activated, oriented and initiated into their new roles. This is a major problem in political leadership especially. Political leader tend to hold onto power for as long as they are allowed by age or success. Newcomers in the political field are often fighting to get themselves into the door.
Leadership is a continual process. Leaders coming of age to fill roles need to make specific steps themselves to communicate key signals that they see themselves fit.
Important questions include: what is the maturity level of someone ready to lead and how can this be measured? How long should leaders be able to hold onto power? (in the case of US Presidents they are only allowed two terms, while US Supreme court justices are there fora lifetime, why is this so?) What are the challenges associated with adulthood with age that we see in so many countries and cultures? (Examples quinceanera, bar mitzvah, age of 21) Can leaders be children? Can leaders be seniors? Who should be allowed to judge on whether someone is ready for a leadership role? How can a mentor activate a student and what is the best ways to approach different personalities?
Thursday 11/17 7-8pm
In the Common session on Thursday night we looked at the the beginning of the Odyssey we learned through Homer's use of language that Odysseus as a failure, though not naming him directly. He suffered, tried to come home from Troy with himself alive, but failed to save his men but they died and it was their fault. This is what is clear in the opening of the Odyssey there is nothing about Poseidon, Zeus, Athena,Penelope, Telemachus and so on. We look at Odysseus' leadership in trying to bring his men home, and started to examine his faults in leadership and his responsibility in his men dying. We looked at the Odyssey as a allegory for veterans coming home. The isolation and PTSD explained. Is his killing of 108 unarmed although guilty suitors. Is it a necessary action? His actions of Odysseus in the cave of Polyphemus put them in danger and killed some of his men. They would rather have left with the Cyclops' milk, cheese and herds, yet Odysseus stayed back to get a gift. Odysseus taunting the bling Polyphemus cause his men to lose their lives at sea, despite his men's effort to calm him. This and many more instances where he could have exhibited better leadership was examined.