One theme found throughout The Odyssey is that good leaders take responsibility for those in their charge.
A
“The wind that carried west from Iliumbrought me to Ismarus, on the far shore,a strongpoint on the coast of Cicones. I stormed that place and killed the men who fought.”B
“I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest: All hands aboard; come, clear the beach and no one tastethe Lotus, or you lose your hope of home.”C
He drew to his fist the cruel head of an arrow for Antinous just as the young man leaned to lift his beautiful drinking cup, embossed, two-handled, golden: the cup was in his fingers: the wine was even at his lips: and did he dream of death?D
“Spare your own people. As for ourselves, we'll makerestitution of wine and meat consumed, and add, each one, a tithe of twenty oxen with gifts of bronze and gold to warm your heart.”