Agamemnon appears to be a mean king when he takes Achilles's wife after he learned that he had to give away his younger wife to her father, Apollo's priest. It doesn't even bother him to lose his people's favor. It is mind-boggling to understand how he ended up being the leader in the first place. Regardless of the time the text is being read, Homer must have understood that Agamemnon was not a good king. He seems to lack the virtue of considering others' pain. Achilles hates him for it, and they argue.
After Kalchas explains that Apollo's curse of epidemic and dying affects the Danaans, Agamemnon says, "Still I am willing to give her back, if such is the best way. I myself desire that my people be safe, not perish."[1.115] This shows that he considers his people's wellbeing as a leader. But then he shoots himself in the foot at showing his people that he is a good leader like a father watching out for them and sacrificing for them and doing things for them. He straight out says, "Find me then some prize that shall be my own, lest I only among the Argives go without, since that were unfitting."[1.118] Is not the role of being a ruler and king and leader to be the fatherly figure who sacrifices their happiness for the happiness of their children? The original reason Apollo sent arrows to kill his people and bring black death to his people was that he didn't give Chryseis back to her father in the first place. He doesn't even show any sorrow when his people died for no reason because he gives back the girl eventually. This is a world where the leader's actions when badly done are not accounted for and the king is to be king regardless of competency. But Agamemnon acts like a young child who is fighting over candy with his sibling behind the car.
After Achilleus scolds him for being "greediest"[1.122], he argues saying "What do you want? To keep your own prize and have me sit here lacking one?"[1.133] Even though Achilles suggested they will give him bigger gifts after they win the Trojan citadel. From Achilles's depiction, Agamemnon never fought with his soldiers, had a dog's eyes with his eyes always on the profit. Was Homer depicting the harshness of having to deal with those in power who have no reason but their own interest?
Right when Achilles is contemplating whether to kill Agamemnon, "Athene descended from the sky. For Hera the goddess of the white arms sent her, who loved both men equally in heart and cared for them."[1.195] to calm Achilles down. The most mind-boggling part is that the Gods who should be able to decide what is right and wrong seem to still love him regardless of his faults as a leader. The question that I wonder is why the Greeks don’t rebel and kill this leader?Achilles says, "You wine sack, with a dog's eyes, with a deer's heart. Never once have you taken courage in your heart to arm with your people for battle, or go into ambuscade with the best of the Achaians." [1.225]
But here are a few good things mentioned and observed about him. "With eyes and head like Zeus who delights in thunder, like Ares for girth, and with the chest of Poseidon … conspicuous … and foremost among the fighters"[2.476]. Maybe the reason he deserved to be a leader is because he looked noble and fear- and awe-inspiring. His charisma could scare people and his air made sure that he was above them by blood by being the son of Atreus.
Later, the old Priam asks Helen from the castle who Agamemnon is. He observed him to be: "man who is so tremendous” and asked, “who is this Achaian man of power and stature? Though in truth there are others taller by a head than he is, yet these eyes have never yet looked on a man so splendid nor so lordly as this: such a man might well be a royal." [3.161] It proves again that on the outside he inspired fear and awe in his enemies, and his fortune and favor from the gods made him a deserving king, as his spirits and favors from the gods meant favor for his people regardless of his failings.
His biggest problem is the desire to dominate and be on top and win. He has no other goal in life, and his goal is to "win to the end of [his] quarrel" [3.291]. If you are smart like Odysseus, you stay loyal to him and do what he asks, or if you are brave like Achilles, you tell the truth and suffer the greedy and powerful king's wrath, as "he still keeps his bitterness that remains until its fulfillment deep in his chest" [1.82].