What is the right thing to do? Should I do the right thing?
In the famous Trojan war, Hector kills Patroclus (Achilles’s nephew) by mistake. Hector thought it was Achilles, as Patroclus was wearing the head gear that belonged to Achilles. Hector would not fight with Patroclus otherwise, as it would not be at a similar level. Patroclus was much younger and not so much a match for Hector. Hector was a man of principle and honour. Hector would not do that. But, he did it by mistake.
Achilles was furious. He was very close to his nephew and wanted to avenge the killing. And asked Hector for a ‘one to one’ combat. The stage is set. Hector was a great warrior, crown prince of Troy. Achilles was also a great warrior and perhaps the best at that time, but not a prince. Achilles risking his life, offers to fight the prince - so confident, so involved, and emotional. Achilles challenges Hector “you thought it was me and killed my nephew. Now, fight me”, as he comes close to the gate of Hector’s fort - alone to fight.
There were many soldiers on the wall separating them waiting for Hector’s order to rain arrows on Achilles – they could have killed Achilles and the prospects of Spartan king Agamemnon, who had come with 50000 men to the shore of Troy to fight. It truly was a great opportunity for them to save their country and their Prince. Hector’s wife with an infant son pleaded to him not to accept the challenge.
The ball, now in the court of Hector to accept the challenge or not. Hector accepts the challenge (because that was the right thing for a Prince to do – a matter of honour and principle). I have a feeling that Hector thought he might get killed in the combat. He was not as confident as Achilles (perhaps not as motivated as Achilles on this combat)
What is the right thing to do?
Hector bids farewell with his father, brother and wife before going for the combat. He even shows his wife her escape route if he falls. Why would he do that? Let’s assume that Hector thought that he had 50 % chance of winning. I would actually think that it was perhaps 49%.
He goes to the combat and asks Achilles – that the winner should allow the loser, a honourable pyre. Achilles brushed it aside. Why would Hector ask that -if he had more than 50% chance of winning?
Perhaps, that was the right thing for Hector to do as a Prince at that point of time, to go to the combat, although his chances of winning were not very bright?
But, should he do that? (the right thing?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voYp5iJTqUg&t=39s
Hector goes for the combat and gets killed by Achilles. Achilles did not even give what Hector asked for – a honourable pyre. He dragged the body of Hector (the Prince Hector – who had the chance to get Achilles killed by his soldiers and honoured him by a one to one combat – risking everything).
Hector’s father, King Priam goes to Achilles in the night to collect the body. Achilles, the great warrior, packs the body, hands it over to the king, wept, and says the famous words “Your son was the best I fought”
Was that ‘honour’ enough? What was the right thing for Hector to have done?
The story is said that the war went against Troy. Hector’s wife was taken prisoner (imagine the plight of her and her son – I do not want to describe). And the country lost everything.
Was Hector more like Karna (in Mahabharata) who was prisoner of his own ‘right’s” and that was not the right thing to do.
What was the right thing for Hector to do? Should he do the right thing – they are two different questions.
My concern and dilemma is not about Hector and Karna. It’s about the present-day situations – plenty of situations – the reader my take his own example and try and ask these questions:
What is the right thing to do? Should one do the right thing??
For example:
I booked my ticket thru online for in an MUV. The driver called me and directed me to come to the place of boarding, waited for me although I was little late, took good care of me, talked to me politely etc and the journey was very pleasant. In between, he allowed couple for other passengers to get in and collected cash from them. When I disembarked from the vehicle, as the last one, he requested me to tell that I was the only passenger in the vehicle – if someone called from his office! – and did not even wait for me to reply. And his office called…
What is the right thing to do? Should I do the right thing?
Title inspired by: Series by Prof Michael Sadel, Harvard University
The article is a glimpse of my training module ' Leadership Lessons from TROY'
ASVP- Human Resources@ FSS
7 年an interesting article to read !!Good one once again ??
Metaphor Artiste.
7 年Thank you! Making me think.. ????
Strategist | Change Agent | An ICF Coach in the making
7 年There are many perspectives to the question "What is the right thing to do" My Perspective: - Hector knew that his chances of coming out of that duel alive were very little or non-existent - He still chose to go out and face the enemy - He set things right with his household before meeting his apparent end Now some might argue that he had the notions of *honor* and *integrity* before the best interest of the nation. In my opinion, Hector did know that Troy is nigh invulnerable. Troy also boasted the finest archers of the period and one of the best cavalry forces. Then there was the beast of the wall that had never been conquered! So Hector going out to meet his enemy was to Champion the cause of Troy and to show the people of Troy and the assembled Greeks that the enemy they had come to conquer are worth their salt, that they are as honorable as the Prince that walked out to meet his doom, that they shall fight to the bitter end should they be defeated, that Agamemnon certainly has a fight in this hand! Above all, we cannot forget the human side of Hector. What motivated Hector to go out and meet his end! Was he not afraid? How can he do what he deemed right in the face of such danger and imminent death? The answer could very well be simple! I shall quote one of my favorite authors here. In his Novel "Dark Moon", "There's no shame in fear. But understand this - the coward is ruled by fear, while the hero rides it like a wild stallion.” At all times, doing the right thing is easy! The tough part is defining "The Right Thing" As C.S. Lewis put in ever so succinctly, "Faith is the art of holding on to things which reason once accepted in spite of changing moods" When we abstain from changing the definition of what the right thing is based on our moods and fears, we will end up doing the right thing! What reason has defined as *The Right Thing* remains the right thing even when circumstances change. That is the iron code that separates Men from boys, as the saying goes! How do we inculcate this behavior? By doing the right thing in little areas of life! Some examples... - Stopping at the Red signal, even when there isn't a cop in sight - Picking up litter that you see and throwing it in the bin - A small thank you to the coffee/tea vendor or the server in the hotel you frequent Individual accountability such as these, when practiced and made into healthy habits define an individual. It is such men who stand tall amongst fellow men. So doing the right thing is the only right thing to do! The question of *Should I do the right thing* will end up messing up one's moral compass, so I believe! Sorry for the long post :)
Visionary People Leader | 23+ Years in HR Business Partnering, Consulting & Transformation | Strategic HR Innovator ??
7 年Courage is the ability to do the right thing, all the time, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be. If a leader is determined to be courage, He / She should have the ability to do the right thing all time. Your archetype story telling is amazing. Thanks Ravi.
Executive Leadership | Growth Strategist | Driving Revenue, Market Expansion & Customer Success | SaaS | ERP | CRM | HCM | LXP | Passionate Mentor & Certified Coach - Ex.Oracle
7 年Good One Ravi..