Hesiod Works And Days Analysis

1. In Hesiod’s Works and Days, he begins by stating “But you, Perses, listen to right and do not foster violence; for violence is bad for a poor man” (Hesiod 1). Hesiod believes that violence is for people of low ethical and economic standing, and that if a man is violent then he will be punished by Zeus. This is where the pessimistic side of Greek religion comes into play: Hesiod warns that Zeus will know if a man is acting in disreputable ways, and will punish not only him but also the place in which he lives by causing famine, plague, and the general perishing of everyone. Hesiod believes that a man should act to uphold justice rather than walk the path of ferocity. Whereas a violent man will bring ruin to his city, a just man will bring prosperity and “all-seeing Zeus never decrees cruel war against them” (Hesiod 2). The land will bear plenty of food, people will be healthy, and civilization will bourgeon. The importance of these two elements in Hesiod’s writing is that he is trying to encourage people to simply act courteous and kind to others. This ideal and these warnings play into how Hesiod believes the basileises should act and how men should treat the people around them.
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The role of the basileis, according to Hesiod, is to be the shining example of justice and to uphold it in their lands. If they stray from the path, then they will bring down the wrath of Zeus on their subjects. The basileis should not “oppress their fellows with crooked judgments, and wreck not the anger of the gods.” (Hesiod 4). The prince, as Hesiod calls them, should act as a just ruler to ensure that everyone is treated equally and fairly so as to not bring down the wrath of the gods. Akin to the common man, the basileis needs to be a reputable person. This plays back into the pessimistic side of their religion, but also shows that in Greek society it was important for even the powerful to be dependable