Student Question
According to Rosh in The Bronze Bow, what is Daniel's fatal flaw?
Quick answer:
According to Rosh, Daniel's fatal flaw is his lack of ruthlessness, which Rosh describes as a "soft streak." Rosh criticizes Daniel for his loyalty and humanity, considering these traits weaknesses that make him unsuitable for their cause. However, Daniel's compassion and sense of responsibility for others reveal Rosh's own flaw—his cold, egocentric nature. While Rosh dismisses Daniel's empathy as a liability, it is actually a leadership strength that Rosh himself lacks.
According to Rosh, Daniel's fatal flaw is that he is not ruthless enough. Rosh tells Daniel,
"I've warned you before...there's a soft streak in you. Till you get rid of it you're no good to the cause."
Rosh had used Joel as a spy for the cause. Then Joel had been captured, and Daniel and the others are anxious to get a group together to secure his release. Rosh, however, has no intention of sending any of his men on a rescue mission. He says,
"On this mountain every man is responsible for himself. That holds for Joel...he was stupid enough to get caught. You think I can spare eight men - or one man - for that?"
When Rosh coldly refuses to consider his entreaties to send some men to save Joel, Daniel's eyes are opened. He sees Rosh, whom he had once idolized, as the cold-blooded, egocentric killer...
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that he is. What Rosh calls "a soft streak" in Daniel is really a sense of loyalty and humanity, which is essential in a leader and which Rosh lacks completely. Although Rosh says that Daniel's "softness" and sensitivity is a fatal flaw, in reality it is a strength. The fact that Rosh lacks this trait is ironically the fatal flaw in himself (Chapter 18).
In The Bronze Bow, what does Rosh consider Daniel's fatal flaw?
According to Rosh, Daniel's weakness was a soft spot (in his heart) for others. Rosh was a ruthless, conniving man who did not care who was hurt in his quest to rid the land of the Romans. As long as his actions moved toward eliminating the Romans, he did the consider the cost to people like farmers and the villagers. His men raided the flocks and stole to eat, depriving their own neighbors of income and food. He did not want to waste his men on a "lost cause" such as freeing Joel from the Romans when he was captured on a mission from Rosh. Daniel's problem was his conscience; her cared for others while Rosh wanted only revenge and victory.