What family conflict inspired Hesiod to write Works and Days?

Works and Days was inspired by a dispute between Hesiod and his brother, Perses. Perses had used guile and bribery to secure an excessive share of their shared inheritance and was actively seeking to gain further advantages through similar dishonest means.12

In the poem, Hesiod attempts to dissuade his brother from these corrupt practices. He urges Perses to abandon his schemes and instead earn his livelihood through honest, strenuous, and persistent labor, which Hesiod identifies as the only true path to prosperity and distinction. To reinforce this message, Hesiod addresses the leaders of their community—who appeared inclined to support Perses—by condemning their injustice and affirming his belief in the power of justice as a divine principle.12