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A Model of Charismatic Leadership
A Model of Charismatic Leadership
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According to Sandberg and Moreman (2011) leadership is an attribution that people make about other individuals. A lot of literature on leadership has been developed. Available literature on this subject has focused on the personal traits that characterize leadership, the relationship between leaders and followers and the conditions that positively impact on leadership. This paper focuses on charismatic leadership.
Leadership
Leadership research has a range of definitions. Krech and Cruthcield (1948) defines leadership as the focus of group processes. This definition positions a leader as the nucleus for integrating group activity. This central position allows a leader to coordinate all the activities that occur in an organizational setting.
Leadership is also viewed as a personality and its effects. Following this definition a leader could viewed as a person who is more than ordinarily efficient in carrying psychosocial stimuli to others. The third school of thought tends to view leadership as an art of inducing compliance. Following this dentition, a leader should be able to induce a subordinate to behave in a desired manner. Leadership is also defined in terms of power relationships among members of a group. Power is regarded as a form of influence relationship. In my view leadership, is vital in deciding what is done and influencing others to do it. Leadership is also a process whereby an individual is able to influence others to achieve a common goal.
A lot of leadership-related theories have been developed. One of the earliest theories ever developed in the great man theory. The theory asserts that leaders are born with certain traits where a trait is defined as a generalized and a focalized neuro-psychic system. The great man theory later gave way to the Trait theory. Just like the great man theory, the trait theory contends that there is a finite set of personality characteristics that distinguish effective leaders from ineffective leaders. According to Sandberg and Moreman, (2011) research on trait theory began in 1904. The trait approach has inspired many studies. In such one study Sandberg and Moreman, (2011) found out that several traits are associated with leadership. In the study Ghiselli further found out that the outstanding traits are: intelligence, supervisory traits, initiative, self-assurance and individuality (). The perception that leadership is an innate ability and as such it cannot be taught has attracted the interest of researchers. In regard, to charismatic leadership, Sandberg and Moreman, (2011)are of the view that, charismatic qualities can be acquired through leadership training.
Charismatic leadership
Translated in Greek, charisma means “gift of grace” (Sandberg, & Moreman, 2011). The term charismatic was first introduced by the sociologist Max Weber and is described as the non-rational form of authority. On the other hand, Weber described charisma as the supernatural trait that emerges in natural leaders during times of distress (Sandberg, & Moreman, 2011). Charismatic leadership represents the ‘new leadership genre.’ In theology, charismatic leadership is defined as the endowment with the gift of divine grace. The Weberian model of charisma contains five elements: a charismatic leader has extraordinary qualities, charismatic leadership occurs during times of desperation and distress, a charismatic leader has a radical vision that offers a solution to the crisis, charismatic leadership cannot be productive without followers who are attracted to the leader and come to believe in his or her exceptional powers and radical vision, and there must be a validation of the leader’s extraordinary gifts by repeated processes. Charismatic leadership is prevalent whether in the business or the political world.
There exist three different interpretations on charismatic leadership: sociological, religious and modern interpretation. The religious interpretation is based on the idea charisma is derived from a divine power. The sociological interpretation is based on the Weber’s theories while the modern interpretation regards charismatic leaders as having intelligent, innovative, persuasive and magnetic qualities. According to the Post-Weberian or the modern interpretation, these qualities emerge in situations where people are socially, economically and politically oppressed. This paper will use the model below to look at the concepts of charismatic leadership.
40957567945Personality traits
Honesty, self-confidence,
Personality traits
Honesty, self-confidence,
4191000107950Perceptions and feelings of followers base don subjective shared interpretative schemes
Leads to:
Arosusal of follower
Commitment to leader
Acceptance of follower
Enhanced follower self-concep
Enhanced performance expectations
Perceptions and feelings of followers base don subjective shared interpretative schemes
Leads to:
Arosusal of follower
Commitment to leader
Acceptance of follower
Enhanced follower self-concep
Enhanced performance expectations
409575118745Vision and goal articulation by leader
Vision and goal articulation by leader
218122590805Favorable perceptions by follower
Favorable perceptions by follower
40957573025Personal image building by leader
Personal image building by leader
32385057150Leader motive aroual behavior
Leader motive aroual behavior
361950249555Leader communication of high performance expectations and confidence in followers
Leader communication of high performance expectations and confidence in followers
leader communication of
36195091440Reinforce leader perfomance
Reinforce leader perfomance
3314700277495Consequences of behaviour: effective follower performance if aroused behaviour is appropariate
Consequences of behaviour: effective follower performance if aroused behaviour is appropariate
238125144780Behaviour of follower: emulation of leaders value sssystem by
Behaviour of follower: emulation of leaders value sssystem by
1495425128905Follower characteristics
Follower characteristics
23812525400Task and environmental variables
Task and environmental variables
2228850234950Task and environmental variables
Task and environmental variables
3381375313690Reinforced follower perfomance
Reinforced follower perfomance
47625077470Leader role modelling of value systems and coaching
Leader role modelling of value systems and coaching
Diagram 1: adopted from Hunt, Baliga, Dachler, and Schriesheim (2004)
Key components of charismatic leadership
Cognitive abilities
Cognitive abilities are made up of creative reasoning abilities, and complex problem-solving skills. The various studies that have been conducted have established a positive relationship between cognitive ability and managerial performance, general intelligence and organizational performance, general intelligence and team decision accuracy, and leader intelligence and subordinate ratings . In regard to charismatic leadership, researchers have found a positive correlation between assessment-center measures of cognitive ability and charismatic leadership.
Attitudes and values
From my own understanding, a charismatic leader is supposed to inspire others and as such he or she should display positive traits that encourage followers to achieve a particular goal (diagram 1). This also means a charismatic leader should have positive attitudes and values that other followers could borrow from. The available literature on this subject indicates that charismatic leadership is negatively to cynical attitudes towards organizational change. In contrast, there exists a positive correlation between charismatic leadership and attitudes such as organizational commitment, and perceived psychological empowerment. When it comes to values, charismatic leadership is positively related to traditional collectivistic, self-transcendent and self-enhancement values. The relationship between attitudes and values can be explained using the diagram below.
0199390Selftranscendent
Selftranscendent
3771900151765Followers’
Extra effort
Followers’
Extra effort
4562475276860Managerial perfomance
Managerial perfomance
2362200220980Charismatic leadership
Charismatic leadership
0220980selfenhancement
selfenhancement
4019550146050Followers’
OCB
Followers’
OCB
95250250825collectivistic
collectivistic
95250-308610Traditional values
Traditional values
Diagram 2
From diagram 2, one can see that all traditional, self-transcendent, collectivistic, and self-enhancing values define charismatic leadership. In turn, charismatic leadership influences the followers to enhance managerial performance. The self transcendent values influences the leaders to put aside his or her ambitions and pursue interests that resonate with the followers. From diagram 1 you will see that one important component is the leader’s ability to arouse the followers’ behavior. The self-sacrificing attitude is able to stimulate this behavior. At the same time, the collectivistic values enable a leader to pursue a cause that reflects the wishes of the followers. This is an important component of the charismatic leadership as illustrated in diagram 2.
Personality traits
Trait refers to a neuropscyhic structure that has the capacity to render many stimuli functionally equivalent, and to generate and control equivalent forms of adaptive and expressive behavior. In other words, traits refer to a collection of personal characteristics that foster a consistent pattern of leadership performance across a variety of situations or settings. The charismatic leaders require a leader to create a vision (see diagram one) and then follow through with this vision until it is actualized. However, the perceptions of the leader by followers is imperative in order to attain the necessary support. The individual traits that are associated with charismatic leadership are discussed individually in the next few chapters.
Insightful
Envisioning is an important component of charismatic leadership. Charismatic leaders are required to formulate a vision and communicate the same to the followers. The vision captures the ideal goals of the organization and the values that attract the followers. In most cases, the vision challenges the status quo and as such charismatic leaders could also be referred to as transformative. Indeed, according to Somani and Krishnan (2007) the vision is not only discrepant from the status quo but it also articulates the ideological goals of the followers.
Besides communicating to the followers the right mission, other conditions are necessary for charismatic leadership to be productive. Firstly, charisma has to be institutionalized. In that case, an administrative apparatus has to be developed in order actualize the leader’s vision. Secondly, the vision of the leader must be incorporated into oral and written traditions. Thirdly, a leader should transfer charisma through rites and ceremonies. Fourthly, there should be a continued identification by organizational members with the leader’s vision. Finally, the successor should resemble the charismatic leader and he or she should continue pursuing the founder’s mission.
Self-esteem
It is widely acknowledged that people who possess a postivie self – concept have emotional stability. Emotional stability makes such individuals to believe in their self-worth. Such individuals also develop a high generalized self-efficacy besides having an internal locus of control. From the examples of Martin Luther and Nelson Mandela I can also rightly say that charismatic leaders are persons who have overcome an inner conflict to realize their full potential. In Somani and Krishnan’s ()view, a charismatic leadership has a positive impact on the feeling of reverence, a sense of collective identity and the perceptions of group task performance.
Empathy
As you can see, in order for charismatic leadership to work, the leader must win the the followers by being honest and empathetic. A charismatic leader is always empathetic of others. This trait requires a leader to develop insight into the needs, values and hopes of followers.
Self confidence
One of the upstanding traits of charismatic leaders is self-confidence. Self-confidence is a product of self-esteem and it helps the leader to maintain the loyalty from the followers.
Self determination
Somani and Krishnan (2007) believe that charismatic leaders possess, inner bearing, uniqueness, self-purpose for being exceptional. This trait allows the leader to focus on his personal vision as well as leading a group to accomplish a shared goal. Moreover, self determination leads to self-actualization. Leaders who are self-actualized are motivated to transfer this status to the followers hence raising them from one level to a higher level.
Social and emotional intelligence
There is no doubt that social intelligence resides at the heart of effective leadership. Social intelligence refers to one’s ability to understand the feelings and thoughts of others, including oneself and act according upon that understanding. Social intelligence encompasses four capacities: social awareness, social acumen, response reflection and response enactment.
In regard to charismatic leadership, social intelligence is enhanced through continued self-motoring. Self-monitoring helps a leader to detect social cues and control one’s expressive behavior. Self-motoring has also been associated with behavioral flexibility, a quality which is important in helping to adapt to the needs of the followers.
Besides social intelligence, emotional intelligence is a vital trait in charismatic leadership. Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to perceive, generate, and regulate emotions. There are four distinct emotional intelligence skills that a charismatic leader should have and they include: emotional identification, emotional use, emotion understanding and emotion management. Emotion identification refers to a set of skills that help a leader to identify and appraise his or her own feelings, as well as the emotional expression of others. Emotional use refers to a set of skills that helps a leader to use emotions to direct attention to important events and environmental cues. Emotional understanding refers to the ability to understand how emotions interact. Finally, emotion management to the ability to control negative feelings while managing different situations.
A lot of research on the role of moods and emotions. In this regard, Somani and Krishnan (2007) point out that positive moods and emotions strengthen charismatic leadership. This idea is supported that was conducted among 34 teams in an automotive company. The results of the study indicated that leaders’ self-reported positive mood was associated with charismatic behavior. Another study, found out that charismatic leaders are able to communicate positive emotions through verbal and non-verbal cues. Unlike positive feelings, negative feelings inhibit charismatic leaders. This is because negative feelings inhibit a leader’s ability to build trusting relations with followers.
The process of charismatic leadership
By now you must have realized that charismatic leadership requires three constituents: the leader, the follower and the social structure wherein the leader and the followers interact (Turner, 2003). When these elements coalesce,charismatic leadership is born. There are six phases of charismatic leadership.
Identification
During this stage , a person identifies the need for radical change. During this stage, the employees are in distress and the leader takes charge by articulating his or her vision. The people started realizing that the leader has a solution but they remain largely passive.
Activity arousal
During this stage, the leader utilizes the hold that he or she has on the passive identifiers. The passive identifiers are aroused to follow the vision with the encouragement of the leader. However, at this point the number of followers is still few as some of them prefer to wait and see the outcomes of the ongoing activities.
Commitment
During this stage, a leader practices role modelling to demonstrate to followers that he or she is committed to the cause. This stage distinguishes non-charismatic and charismatic leaders because unlike charismatic leaders, non-charismatic leaders are unlikely to participate in self-sacrificing activities. The selfless behavior of a charismatic leader encourages the followers to commit themselves too by transcending their self interests. At this point the charismatic leadership reaches its peak. In addition, at this point the collective behavior generated reduces the instability and distress that characterized the social situation before the charismatic leader appeared. As the concept of collective identity develops, some of the charismatic may try to take advantage by following their personal interests. Usually personalized charismatic leaders turn out to become authoritarian and exploitative. In contrast, socialized charismatic leaders are egalitarian, altruistic and non-exploitative.
Disenchantment
During this stage, the vision of the leader becomes routinized, the effects of which is that some of the followers defects.
Depersonalization
As the process becomes routinized, the leader may put in place a contingent reward system to motivate the followers and ensure they stick to their assigned tasks. Although this strategy is likely to attract some of the followers, some of them become discouraged by the bureaucratic regime and task standardization. As a result, some of the followers cease to be active participants. In sum, during this stage, the depersonalization of the cause occurs.
Alienation
By now the cause has been achieved and the members now devote the time to organizational needs such supervision and control. Another important event that occurs in this stage is that followers start doubting whether the organization is committed to the pursuit of the vision that had been identified at the onset. Those who feel that they can no longer continue working in such a situation abandon the organization and those who remain start expressing their displeasure. As a result, the distress and ambiguity that characterized the situation initially resurfaces. This process shows that charismatic leadership is short-lived or it evolves into a bureaucracy due to routinization.
Effects of charismatic leadership on followers
Empowerment
The available literature focuses on the effect of leadership on followers’ trust, confidence, loyalty, affection, and admiration for leaders. A theory by Potts (2009) hypothesizes that charismatic leaders are able to transform follower self-concepts through a number of ways. Firstly, leaders change followers’ perceptions of the nature of work itself. Secondly, they offer an appealing future vision. Thirdly, they develop a collective identity among followers. Finally, they heighten both individual and collective-self efficacy.
All these concepts are related to empowerment which is defined as the process that leads to enhanced perceptions of self-efficacy. From my own understanding, a charismatic leader is able to empower followers by identifying conditions that bring the sense of powerlessness and removing them through formal organizational practices and informal techniques. Charismatic leaders often use several strategies to foster the sense of empowerment. For one i have realized that they allocate followers, tasks and goals of increasing complexity. After followers gain initial success they become motivated to handle more complex tasks. Secondly, they use verbal persuasion and personal recognition to encourage their followers. These techniques enable the followers to gain more confidence in the abilities and hence mobilize a greater sustained effort. In addition, these techniques help followers to confirm their self-worth. Thirdly, charismatic leaders serve as a role model. Charismatic leaders could use their influential status to demonstrate to their followers on how different tasks are supposed to be handled. In experiencing vicarious success through their leader, the followers are able to gain more confidence.
Initiative oriented behavior
In the current business environment, employees are supposed to act in a proactive way. In addition, employees are required to anticipate and act upon dynamic environments in a self-directed way. The initiative oriented behavior involves continuous learning, participating in ongoing initiatives and volunteering for additional tasks and responsibilities. It is observed that failure by the employee to identify with the organization and its organizational goals may negatively impact on their initiative oriented behavior. However, leadership can be used to encourage initiative oriented behavior. For instance, followers of charismatic leaders have been found to engage in discretionary behavior. This is because they become stimulated to commit themselves to the tasks at hand without necessarily being supervised. Charismatic leadership has also been found to encourage organizational citizenship behavior through employee collective identification and group belongingness (Smith, 1998).
Crisis
As earlier indicated, there is supporting evidence that charismatic leadership is likely to occur under conditions of crisis. This is because during a crisis, followers feel helpless and as such become more prone to charisma. Some explanations for the effects of the crisis on charismatic leadership have been proposed. The first explanation is that during a period of crisis, the behavior of the complex social systems becomes unpredictable. In addition, during such times the relationship between goals and performance become ambiguous. Most importantly, the situation becomes unstable and as such requires exceptional effort. When such a psychologically weak situation occurs followers look for a leader who is engaged in sense making activities. In terms of suitability, charismatic leadership can be applied in collectivistic rather that individualistic work units.
Diagram 1:
From diagram 1 several things emerge:
Personality traits influence the leader’s motive behavior
The vision that is created at the start of the charismatic leadership process, the personal image of the leader creates a favorable perception of leader by followers.
The favorable perception of leader by followers enhances commitment to the leader. Commitment to the leader is by the way of trusting the leader, and being loyal and obedient to the leader. The favorable perception of leader by followers also leads to am arousal of follower needs, acceptance of follower of challenging goals, enhanced follower self-esteem and enhanced performance expectations on the part of the follower.
Ultimately the perceptions of the follower influence the behavior of the follower. Typically, positive reaction by the follower leads to higher performance
Conclusion
Charismatic leadership depends on many variables. The main variable is the personality of a person. The key personality traits of a charismatic leader are self-confidence, empathy, the ability to take risks, self-sacrificing attitude, and good communication skills. A charismamtci leader also has high levels of social and emotional intelligence. Charismatic leadership leadership thrives in situations there is crisis and is best suitable for collectivistic rather that individualistic work units.
References
Hunt, J., Baliga, R., Dachler, P., Schriesheim, C. (2004). Emerging leadership vistas. Lexington books
Potts, J. (2009). A History of Charisma. PalgraveMacMillan
Sandberg, Y., & Moreman, C., (2011). Common Threads among different forms of charismatic leadership. International Journal of Business and Social Science 2(9): 235- 240
Somani, A. & Krishnan, V. (2007). Impact of charismatic leadership and job involvement on corporate image building. Management and Labor studies 29(1), 7- 16
Smith, D. N (1998). Faith, Reason, and Charisma: Rudolf Sohm, Max Weber, and the Theology of Grace,” Sociological Inquiry, 68:1, 32-60,
Turner, S. (2003). Charisma Reconsidered. Journal of Classical Sociology, 3(5), 6.
A Midsummer Night Dream
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Introduction
The importance of literary works to the contemporary human society cannot be gainsaid as far as enhancing the knowledge of the society is concerned. Indeed, literary works have had numerous uses in the society including entertainment, education and even inspiration of new ideas. History shows that literary works, including works of art, poems and even fictional stories have been responsible for quite a number of fundamental social changes in varied societies and countries. This not only underlines the popularity of these literary works, but also that of their authors or creators. While different authors, playwrights, poets and artists have varying degrees of popularity from their works, none can arguably outdo Shakespeare in terms of popularity, both in his time and in the years that followed. Indeed, a large number of his works remain relevant and applicable in the contemporary human society, in spite of the fact that they were written centuries ago. This is the case for “A Midsummer Night Dream”, a play thought to have been written between 1590 and 1596. The play shows the events that surround the married between Hippolyta and the Duke of Athens, Theseus (Montrose 61). Included in the events are the adventures pertaining to four young Athenian lovers, as well as a groups of six inexperienced actors, who are manipulated and under the control of the fairies inhabiting the forest which makes up the setting for the larger part of the play. Indeed, the play makes up one of the most popular stage works for Shakespeare and has been performed widely across the globe. While there may be differing opinions as to the nature of the play, it is evident that the play remains a classic comedy.
First, the play, like a large number of comedies written at this period opens with discussions pertaining to love and marriage. Indeed, Hermia has declined to get married to Demetrius, a man chosen by Egeus her father. This is against the ancient Athenian law that underlines the requirement that a daughter has to get married to a man or rather a suitor selected by her father, a deviance of which would attract a death penalty (Croce 367). On the other hand, she could choose the path of lifelong chastity as a reward for worshiping Diana. Unfortunately, Hermia is uncomfortable with this option as well, in which case she elopes with her fiancée named Lysander, with whom she runs away. The classic nature of the story is underlined by its extensive exploration of the theme of love, as well as the struggle between two young lovers and the draconian laws that they are required to follow by their elders (Croce 367).
In addition, the overlap between situational and dramatic irony would make the play a classic comedy. Dramatic irony revolves around the manner in which the audience perceives the circumstances of the four lovers incorporated in the play. First, both Lysander and Demetrius suddenly stop being in love with Hermia and instead fall in love with Helena. Both of them are unaware of the reason for this although the audience is well aware (Montrose 65). On the same note, dramatic irony may be seen in the instance where Helena responds scornfully to the advances of the two. Indeed, she believes that not only are the two men playing a plank on her but also that Hermia knows and is part of that joke. She concludes that Lysander’s advances are scornful to her when she states “Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born / When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?” (II.ii.125-126). This is the same belief that she that she holds pertaining to the advances of Demetrius as shown by her statement “O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent / To set against me for your merriment” (III.ii.147-148). Her statement “Lo, she is one of this confederacy!” (195) underlines her belief that Hermia is part of this joke. Unfortunately, she is unaware that the two are sincere in their love as they have been enchanted using a love portion. The dramatic irony is mixed with situational irony as it is purely accidental that the two men stop their pursuit of Hermia and instead start pursuing Helena. On the same note, Puck thinks that Lysander is Demetrius, which makes Lysander fall in love and start pursuing Helena as she is seen just as Lysander is waking up. At that time, Oberon intentionally places the love portion on the eyes of Demetrius, which makes the two men start their pursuit of Helena. Indeed, the situatiobnal irony emanating from Puck’s mistake results in arguments between the characters, as well as a number of humorous lines.
In conclusion, Shakespeare comes as one of the most popular playwrights both in his times and in the contemporary human society. This may be seen in the case of “A midsummer Night Dream” a play written centuries ago but whose themes are applicable in the modern times. His exploration of the theme of love and marriage makes it a classic. In addition, it has situational and dramatic irony overlapping each other, with tidbits of humor.
Works cited
Montrose, Louis. “The Imperial Votaress”. A Shakespeare Reader: Sources and Criticism. Eds. Richard Danson Brown and David Johnson. London: Macmillan Press, Ltd, 2000. 60–71
Croce, Benedetto. “Comedy of Love”. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Eds. Judith M. Kennedy and Richard F. Kennedy. London: Athlone Press, 1999. 386–8.
Shakespeare, William (1979). Harold F. Brooks, ed. The Arden Shakespeare “A Midsummer Nights Dream”. Methuen & Co. Ltd.
The role the Greek gods play in the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides (2)
The role the Greek gods play in the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides
In ancient Greece, the role of gods is so important that without them the story almost does not exist. Therefore their role is of particular significance because it is upon these gods the people placed their faith and their belief as to what they were supposed to do at a particular time. It is also upon these gods that the people’s behaviors and ways of living are controlled and influenced. The gods are the basic elements of Greek mythology and they are the ones worshipped thus their importance in the lives of the society at that particular time. These gods included Zeus who is considered to have been their leader among other gods like Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Hera among others.
In the play of Aeschylus, we realize that the role of God is of a very significant aspect. In this play, we see how king Agamemnon was compelled to sacrifice his daughter for the sake of his assurance that he will travel safely to the city of troy. This shows how the people of greek were fully dependent on the gods and how they could even go to the extent of human sacrifice for the sake of pleasing these gods. Therefore from this example of king Agamemnon, we get to know that the gods were of utmost importance in realizing and determining what a person would do and that they needed for the sake of their lives and their families.
Clytemnestra also goes to the palace and lights a fire at the altar of the gods. Here he begins to invoke the gods and thanks to them for the victory. He especially thanks Zeus for ensuring their victory and this is of paramount importance. He also talks to the people and how they should observe the ordinances which had to be followed to please the gods and that the people should never do anything to make the gods displeased as this would make their lives miserable when the gods decide to show their anger upon the people. This is of paramount importance and people obey and believe that these gods will always protect them in everything they do. Therefore the people firmly believe that these gods can bring them the success of destruction in that if they do well they get success but if they do badly they get negative feedback from the gods and lack of support as well.
In Sophocles, the gods are seen as controlling the lives of Thebans in almost everything they do. The gods are mainly concerned with a person’s destiny in this text. This is because many characters want to live their lives freely and who think that they can overpower the gods but this does not happen and what the gods have prophesied happens at the end of it all. This is a sign that the gods are powerful and they control the lives of human beings. Thus the best thing to do is to respect and honor them. This is depicted in the behavior of Jocasta whereby she thought she had the powers to change the will and the prophecy of the gods by tying her son who was prophesied to kill her husband. Even though she thinks that this will prevent what the gods prophesied it still happens and she is angry at it. Therefore the gods can be said to be the destiny makers of the people of Greece in those particular times because they are the most important part of their lives.
In this text we see gods portrayed as bad and they are defamed. This is because they tried to destroy him and his family for no reason. This is a contradiction of what is commonly believed that gods are good and they cannot cause unnecessary pain to someone. This they do by telling Oedipus of his destiny through the oracle of Apollo, they also bring a plague to the people of Thebes which are unlike the gods. Even though Oedipus tries to convince the people that what happens around his life is not his fault it is very difficult for the people to understand and therefore this acts to portray what is seen as the gods failing and the blame being placed on Oedipus.
Demeter was one of the gods in the text about Euripides. She was able to change her form and prevent herself from growing old and therefore beauty was ever around her as she remained young. In Euripides as well as in Sophocles there is no escaping the gods and what they want happens at the end of everything as they are seen to be destiny makers. This is seen in Euripides through the killing of Pentheus. This is because he tries to maintain a certain order against the will of Bacchae who is the god. Therefore in this case we get to see that the gods were very wise and no human mind of efforts could overpower them.
In conclusion, we can say that the human nature to have a sense of belonging was satisfied during the Greek times by the presence of the gods whom they worshipped and gave their allegiance to. It is also evident that the gods liked obedience and being considered the overall. However, this nature can be said to have made the gods more than powerful and proud; this is because even though they are all-powerful and ever knowing and yet they can help the people be better they at times destroy the lives of the people intentionally which is against the will of the people.