Suffering the Iliad Essay examples - 810 Words

Suffering in The Iliad Suffering seems to be one of the under toning themes of the Iliad. Everyone undergoes the effects of war and battle. The women stand and watch helplessly as their loved ones fight, and live knowing they may never come back. The role of what a ‘man’ or ‘women’ is or should be also causes suffering because of the decisions they must take on. The warriors understand that whichever decision they make to continue in battle or desert, their honor and integrity is at stake and that dilemma causes suffering Although, each person I mention seems to somewhat understand what fate lies ahead of them or of their loved ones, they realize the suffering they will have to eventually go through. As a warrior Achilles has†¦show more content†¦The women in the city of Troy cannot ignore that lives without their husbands is a possibility. Helen, who some would say is the cause of the great battle, understands that she has a fault in the tragedies the men and woman will suffer: â€Å"You are the one hit the hardest by this fighting, Hector/ you more than all – and all for me, slut that I am, /and this blind mad Paris. Oh the two of us!† (VI: 287-289). Hector is valiant, a man of honor, which is the detriment to his fate, an element Andromache cannot help but worry about: â€Å"Clung to his hand, urged him, called him: ‘reckless one, / My Hector – your own fiery courage will destroy you!’† Life without a father for their son causes her most worry: â€Å"Have you no pity for him, our helpless son? Or me? /and that destiny that weighs me down, your widow, /now so soon. Yes, soon they will kill you off,† (VI: 350-352). Androma che understands that Hector is too proud of a warrior to walk away, but fears his death will cause most harm to their child, and many of her days she worries tremendously. Hector himself is conflicted: All this weighs on my mind too, dear woman. But I would die of shame to face the men of Troy and the Trojan woman trailing their long robes if I would shrink from battle now, a coward (VI: 388-341) Not only is being labeled as a cowardShow MoreRelatedSuffering During The Epic The Iliad921 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the epic The Iliad, written by Homer there is an overall theme of suffering. Suffering occurs when someone is put under an immense amount of sadness and grief. Many people in the epic suffer due to the war. Suffering in regards to war, even today, is mainly caused by loss of loved ones. Loved ones include children and significant others that are fighting or a casualty of the war. The Iliad demonstrates the theme of suffering throughout the epic due to the capturing of women as prizesRead MoreJustice and Love in the Iliad 959 Words   |  4 Pages Simone Weil argues that the way Homer presents war and the use of force in the Iliad, in all of its brutality, violence, and bitterness bathes the work in the light of love and justice (pg 25). The point Weil is making is that by depicting the suffering of all of these men regardless of their side, or strength Home r equalizes them in a â€Å"condition common to all men†(pg 25). Because Homer equalizes them the reader can feel empathy, or at least compassion for all of the men. However while Weil isRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Iliad 904 Words   |  4 PagesThe Iliad, which is sometimes referred to as the song of llion, is an ancient Greek poem that was written by Homer. The Iliad takes place towards the end of the Trojan War. In book I of the Odyssey Zeus tells the other gods: â€Å"My word, how mortals take the gods to task! All their afflictions come from us, we hear. And what of their own failings? Greed and folly Double the suffering in the lot of man.† This directly connects to the Iliad because greed and folly is a major theme in this poem. ThisRead More The Iliads Ending Essay895 Words   |  4 Pages Homers Iliad is commonly understood as an epic about the Trojan War, but its meaning goes deeper than that. The Iliad is not only a story of the evolution of Achilleus persona, but at times it is an anti-war epic as well. The final book proposes many questions to the reader. Why not end with the killing of Hektor? Most stories of war conclude with the triumphant victory of good over evil, but in the Iliad, the final thoughts are inclined to the mourning of the defeated Hektor, which accentuatesRead MoreThe Iliad And The Odyssey1498 Words   |  6 PagesAn Influential Poem The Iliad is a poem that provides important stories with insight into early human society. It was an ancient story written centuries ago about two civilizations that battled against each other. â€Å"The Iliad tells the story of the clash of two great civilizations, and the effects of war on both the winners and losers† (Homer 222). In addition to its influence on Greek poetry, the Iliad is a great Homeric epic that has long helped shape critical schools of thought. It is notRead MoreIliad - Self image1193 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿The Iliad Essay Prompt 1. Complete one take home essay. Provide textual evidence, specific lines and incidents from The Iliad that proves your thesis. You may also draw from The Odyssey. Use in text parenthetical documentation according to MLA standards. The style guide that many colleges use is DianaHacker.com. We will use this style guide for both MLA format and grammar and mechanics. If you have any questions about MLA format, refer to DianaHacker.com. This paper needs to read asRead MoreAnger Of Achilles : The Great Warrior Achilles1250 Words   |  5 PagesAchilles â€Å"ANGER – sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that accursed anger, which brought the Greeks endless sufferings and sent the mighty souls of many warriors to Hades, leaving their bodies as carrion for the dogs and a feast for the birds; and Zeus’s purpose was fulfilled. It all began when Agamemnon lord of men and godlike Achilles quarrelled and parted† (Iliad 4). What is anger and how does it influence the body? Anger is a powerful emotion. If it isn’t handled appropriately, itRead MoreTrojan War and Iliad1134 Words   |  5 Pagesevidence from the poems gives evidence of familiarity with the topography and place-names of this area of  Asia Minor, for example, Homer refers to meadow birds at the mouth of the  Caystros(Iliad  2.459–63), a storm in the  Icarian  sea (Iliad  2.144–6), and mentions that women in  Maeonia  and  Caria  stain ivory with scarlet (Iliad  4.142). Valeree Shayne C. Aranas IV-2 SHS C. Comprehension Questions 1. Book I Read MoreComparison between The Iliad and The Women of Troy Essay903 Words   |  4 PagesThe Iliad by Homer and the Women of Troy by Euripides are both Greek works of literature that look at the Trojan War from different perspectives. Book 6 of the Iliad illustrates that the ultimate glory is to fight for the city with no regard to the impact on the family. The Women of Troy focuses on the negatives that war causes, especially towards the soldier’s wives and children. Whereas the Iliad focuses on the battle itself and centers on the warriors, the Women of Troy focuses on the wrathRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad Essay1231 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Iliad is a tale of war and aggression (Puchner 183). Written in the 8th century, it remains relevant to society today. The basis of the Iliad, warfare, brings with it portrayals of death, grief, and the real problem with humankind: we are not peaceful beings. In a war-ridden world, these topics remain pertinent to society. These terrors of war showcased in the Iliad generate an anti-war message. With this said, Homer creates a timeless lesson against war with his work. While the Iliad has been