Xenophon the Character and Speeches in the Anabasis: Moral Teaching and Ethical Values

The paper explores the interplay between Xenophon-as-character and Xenophon-as-narrator in the Anabasis. This narrative device is particularly telling not so much because it gives reason for enhancement in credibility (aside from Xenophon-the-author’s true motivations) or justifies Xenophon’s conduct and behaviour during the Ten Thousand’s enterprise; it rather helps the reader understand Xenophon’s views on leadership, moral teaching, and moral values. So, this paper argues that in the Anabasis Xenophon uses speeches to better define the leadership of Xenophon-as-character, that is, as distinct from Xenophon-as-narrator. This offers potential to further understanding of two of the most challenging aspects of Xenophon’s narrative techniques.