The Iliad and Relationships Essay

Submitted By bbailiff
Words: 794
Pages: 4
Open Document
It would seem that the process for bonding with another soldier would be intuitive since so much is at stake. Pettiness would be overruled by the confidence one gains truly understanding that the greater good is at hand; men who fight together against the enemy have a common goal. They should agree to disagree, and they should protect each other to reach their common goals. In a strong army no one should be expendable. The Greek army was a powerful army. The story of the Iliad gives us a glimpse into the social relationships of men in battle. Some of these men share resources such as heritage, or country. Some of them share divinity. Some oppose each other and some fight on the same side. There is never a constant in these relationships; it is always an arbitrary existence that is as distinct a blade of grass. Interesting enough each scenario gives us a glimpse into the trigger and passions that guide the steps of our characters.
If your parents have anything to do with how much influence you have, then the relationship between Achilles and Agamemnon the warlord shows that a mother will go to any length to mend a broken heart. As we watch the anger and posturing unwind we get a sense of the frustration Achilles feels as he recites a laundry list of accusations. Achilles assesses Agamemnon a coward, a man with a rabbits’ heart, one who avoids the hazard of the front line only to expect favor and the right to forge his way to the forefront where he will surely take ownership of the first and primary spoils of each battle. Achilles’ monolog is scorching and one that compels him to defend his honor. He is a fierce warrior; does he really have to do this? His character dictates that he does. Here the escalation starts. There is no return. This adversarial relationship between he and Agamemnon is a catalyst for further action and retribution. Achilles refuses to go forth to fight the Greeks. He is confident that his absence will change the tide of this battle.
Achilles relationship with Patroclus is obviously a loving relationship. The death of Patroclus causes Achilles to grieve so that a common perception might be that he is suicidal. His whole existence now shifts to a new focus of revenge which he feels is the only way to avenge his fallen comrade. We have seen Achilles as a warrior, but here by contrast he shows surprisingly, another facet character and his true thoughts of war:
“I stand alone in the while Greek army When it comes to war – though some do speak better. I wish all strife could stop, among gods And among men and anger too – it sends Sensible men in to fits of temper, It drips down our throats sweeter than honey and mushrooms up in our bellies like smoke. Yes, the warlord Agamemnon angered me. But we’ll let that be, no matter how it hurts. And conquer our pride, because we must.
Show More

Related Documents: The Iliad and Relationships Essay

Relationship Between Gods And Goddesss In The Iliad

FunminiyiOluyinka 10/20/2014 Humanities 201 Dr. Adam Mekler Gods, Goddesses and Man-kind In his text the Iliad, Homer writes about the extensive war between Greek and Troy. This war was called the Trojan War. Through Greek's mython the background of the war, Greek readers believe it derived from the extraction of Helen-Menelaus's wife- by Paris-prince of Troy- during the marriage of Thetis and Peleus. In the marriage of Thetis and Peleus, three goddesses- Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite- debated…

Words 917 - Pages 4

Importance Of Loyalty In The Odyssey

The value that is most vital to a relationship is loyalty. With loyalty comes reward and with disloyalty comes consequences, for loyalty builds trust while disloyalty destroys relationships. Throughout the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer expresses the significance of these values. The characters’ acts of loyalty and disloyalty have dramatically different results. In a relationship, loyalty strengthens the bonds between two parties. In the Iliad, Hector knows that Helen adores him, but he only loves…

Words 428 - Pages 2

How Does Achilles Get Revenge In The Iliad

The Iliad The book, “The Iliad,” is an exciting adventure filled with cruel vengeance, brutal war, and delirious people. Someone named Achilles wants revenge, on someone named Hector, so bad that he makes a plan to kill him. War in “The Iliad,” is very unpleasant and revolting. It is definitely something I would not want to see everyday. People were very serious and also extremely dumb, when they tried to handle something their way and not God’s way. Revenge was incredibly harsh…

Words 612 - Pages 3

Iliad and Gods Essay

the mortals’. In the case of Robert Fagles’1990 translation of Homer’s The Iliad, this statement could not be any more accurate. An ancient Greek epic poem, passed through generations by word of mouth, The Iliad is one of the most famous Greek works of literature in history, depicting the story of the battle of Troy and social customs and traditions respected amongst people of the time. A main theme observed in The Iliad is the mortality of man and his creations. The epic’s clear juxtaposition of…

Words 1862 - Pages 8

Homer's Odyssey: Homeric Heroes And Free Will

Homeric Heroes, And Free Will In Homers Iliad and Odyssey the characters constantly battle with themselves. The main characters are multidimensional and are given free will but it is expected by the gods to accept the punishment when they dishonore them or the customs of the society they live. Mortals usually blame the gods for their misfortunes; “Mortals! They are always blaming the gods for their troubles when their own witlessness causes them more than they are destined for!” (Odyssey 1.36)Although…

Words 936 - Pages 4

Gospel Of Lukes Role Of Women Essay

Women in The Iliad, Metamorphoses, and The Gospel of Luke Throughout literature women are shown in numerous ways, which may demean or empower women. In The Iliad and Metamorphoses women are often shown as objects with a compartmentalized role that they tend not to stray from. In contrast, the Gospel of Luke puts women in a higher position and almost strives for a sense of equality between men and women. Homer’s The Iliad and Ovid’s Metamorphoses both objectify women and show them as weak whereas…

Words 1729 - Pages 7

Iliad and War Zeus Essay

In Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad, it was believed that the gods had an active involvement in the human world. Most, if not all the gods took part in the outcome of the Trojan War, which is the undermining story within Homer’s Iliad. Zeus took the form of the leader of the Greek gods, which was very unrealistic due to his lack of involvement in the Trojan War. Throughout the war Zeus stayed very moderate by not showing favoritism towards either side. Zeus stays moderate throughout the war so he can…

Words 1404 - Pages 6

Comparison of Troy and the Iliad Essay

Wolfgang Peterson tackles the job of bringing the epic of Homer's The Iliad to the big screen in his film Troy. Iliad being a lengthy text, it is impossible to include every detail in a movie. Therefore, there are obvious deviations from the book such as the length of the Trojan War, and the absence of celestial participation in the war. There is also an absence of mortal female characters such as Chryseis, Hecuba, and Cassandra in the movie. In contrast, though, the female characters who are…

Words 880 - Pages 4

Hospitality In Homer's Odyssey

in The Odyssey The Iliad and The Odyssey are the earliest works of Greek literature, which gives the reader a remarkable portrayal of people, life, cultures, wars, and society. Homer, who is said to be the author of the two epics, uses interesting narrative techniques to explain social relationships, consequences of vice, rewards of virtues, diversified cultures, customary traditions, sacrifices, rituals, and the roles of gods. In the Odyssey, the focus is on the relationships between the hero Odysseus…

Words 528 - Pages 3

The Iliad Essay

Homer’s epic The Iliad, is a great tale of war and glory. It takes place during the last year of the ten year Greek-Trojan war. The Greeks have been fighting with the Trojans for quite some time, and just when peace seemed like a possibility, the youngest prince of Troy, Paris, acts out selfishly and steals the beautiful wife of Menelaus, Helen. This instigates the fighting again. Throughout The Iliad, Homer tells of two heroes, both similar, but also very different in their character; the great…

Words 1156 - Pages 5