Theme Of Forgiveness In The Iliad

Literature transcends through time, and the lessons written within their pages are still applicable today. Although the lessons in these stories may seem a bit extreme, they are not to be overlooked. Looking through the stories we have read so far, both The Story of Joseph and The Iliad are stories with themes we can relate to, even today. The theme they share is the theme of forgiveness, something that every person can relate to. In the Iliad, Achilles is an arrogant demi-god that cannot be told what to do. However, when his close cousin, Patroclus is killed my Hector, he becomes furious. Although his mother advises him not o get revenge, he does not listen, “I won’t have you with me for long, my child, if you say such things. Hector’s death means yours” ( ). After he defeats Hector he dragged him at the back of his chariot all the way back to him tent, “He pierced the tendons above the heels and cinched them with leather thongs to his chariot, letting Hector’s head drag”( ). That night, Hector’s father, Priam, came to Achilles’ tent in hopes to bring his beloved son’s body back home, “Remember your father, godlike Achilles. He and I both are on the door step of old age. He may well be now surrounded by enemies wearing him down and have no one to protect him from harm. But then he hears that you are …show more content…
In The Iliad, Achilles starts to forgive and let go of his cousin’s tragic death, and gives Hector’s body back to Priam. Although this is not the main theme of this story, it is definitely there and impacts the development of the rest of the story. If Achilles had stayed furious, the story may have had a very different turn out. In The Story of Joseph, forgiveness plays a huge role. These stories may seem a bit extreme compared to our lives, however, everyone at some point in their lives has to let go of something that has happened and forgive, whether it’d be others or

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