Achilless armor is considered as one of the best and the most powerful, that is why it is not a surprise that Ajax and Odysseus wanted to have it after Achilless death. However, to make sure that the Achilless armor is given to the most deserving of them, Ajax and Odysseus were offered to prepare speeches to convince the meeting that particularly he deserves attention and should be give Achilless armor.
Therefore, each of the parties presented many arguments. Ajax and Odysseus presented their personal consideration about why Achilless armor should belong to one of them.
Ajax has provided many arguments, however these three are considered as the most powerful and convincing. First, Ajax pointed that he saved the Greek ships from Hectors torches and he was the one who threw a boulder at Hector. Second, Ajax saved Odysseus in battle and he considered it as the stress on Odysseuss helplessness. Finally, Ajaxs shield is full of holes which were made during the previous battling, that is why he needs a new shield, while Odysseuss one is new.
Odysseuss arguments were much stronger that is why the Achilless armor was given to him. Thus, Odysseus claimed that it was he who brought Achilles out of hiding on Scyros to join the Greeks. That is why this action may be considered as his indirect slew of Hector. Next.
Odysseus killed Dolon the Trojan spy and got many wounds in the fight that tells about his bravery while Ajax was never wounded. Finally, Ajax does not deserve to have the Achilless armor as he was about to leave Troy and Odysseus did all possible to convince Agamemnon not to stop fighting and to return Ajax at the field of battle, otherwise, he could leave and never return.
Odysseuss speech is believed to be more compelling as having presented just several arguments in this paper, his speech was full of objective and argumentative reasons based on the Odysseuss achievements during the war, while Odysseuss arguments mostly looked like the desire of a child to convince others to give him the armor just because he is good and long.
It was inadmissible to point at the family relationships with Achilles as the reason to give the armor to him. Moreover, all Odysseuss reasons are based on the battle destinations, the intentions to help and his participation in the events which impacted the war outcomes.
Reading the debate speeches of each men, it is possible to create an opinion about each of them. The speech of Odysseus characterizes him as a powerful man, a wise leader and a person who got used to prove in action that he deserves respect. Listening to all his arguments, it is possible to notice that he fairly accesses his place in the fight. He does not exaggerate his achievements and offers only the facts which are useful in considering the case.
Ajaxs speech is absolutely different as being a person who had done absolutely nothing, he tries to exaggerate his achievements by means of the achievements of others. Having nothing to present about the war achievements, Ajax begins to point at the features which have nothing is common with the subject (like the family relationships with Achilles and the absence of the new shield). It characterizes Ajax as a weak, powerless and ambitionless person without any principles and objective and fair thinking.
Under classical mythology, one can define a hero as a courageous individual with great strength, widely known and celebrated by his society for his actions which portray exceptional boldness.
In literature, a hero simply means a person with a character that people need to admire or emulate. S/he therefore possesses all the ideals celebrated, valued and articulated by his/her culture. Heroes exist in all fields; for example, in politics, sports, and struggle for freedom among others. Be it in classical mythology, ordinary literature, or any other field, a hero must possess ordinary characteristics that no other person possesses.
Since the judgment of heroic deeds lies in the culture that shapes an individual, different cultures value different traits in their heroes. In literature circles, heroism emanates from both the culture of the author and the culture to which the hero belongs. Heroism not only focuses on the actions of an individual, but also the reasons behind their actions.
According to the Greek culture, a hero must be a man with exceptional warrior characteristics; he should stand above other warriors in the society in all aspects; he must not only show warrior characteristics, but should also be intelligent and good in speech; he should endeavor to shun anything that intends to spoil his repute as a good warrior and finally he should have greater strength and courage than his fellow warriors who should freely acknowledge that he is the best warrior amongst them. These exceptional qualities make him legible for crowning as a leader.
In the Greek history, a story is told of a man, Achilles, who possessed characteristics that the Greek culture reserved to heroes. A study of the Greek culture and its comparison to Achilles gives an important revelation: Achilles is a classical hero. This essay focuses on Achilles deeds and how they contributed towards his heroism.
Achilles Heroic Characteristics
Achilles is a swift runner. According to Lowrey, this character of swiftness comes out when epithets referred to him as a man who was swift footed (2). Swiftness is an important characteristic for individuals with the desire to excel in war or any other form of physical confrontation.
With swiftness, one is able to easily capture or flee from an enemy during war. Besides, such people are able to perform better during competitions aimed at searching for true heroes of a given society. As a result, warriors all over the world cherish this trait and it is through it that Achilles gets crowned as a hero.
Besides swiftness, Achilles possesses the characteristics of courage. Courage, as a trait enables an individual to do what the ordinary person cannot do on the grounds that, it has negative possible consequences or evokes fear of injury or death (Anderson, 12). As a result, one can take up any challenge regardless of any negative impeding consequences of such actions.
The spirit of courageousness enabled Achilles to fight his enemies without fear of possible injury or death. This character trait as a courageous man also enabled him to storm out twelve cities of men both by sea through his ships and by land. Honestly, this is not an easy task! No wonder some of his people describe him as a lion-hearted man.
According to Redfield, it is Achilles courage that made him face any body in battle without fear (39). In some instances, it is evident that people knew him as a man who ruthlessly and courageously tore his opponents in battle. This task cannot be possible for a timid individual; therefore, because of his courageous nature, Achilles passes for a hero.
Achilles heroic deeds made people revere him so much that they gave him godly characteristics. They regarded him as a man who commanded fear all over because his actions evoked feelings of fear and terror (Jaeger, 35). This attitude of people towards Achilles portrays him as a special man deserving a special kind of treatment.
His ability to break his opponents when at war and his physical superiority over all other warriors paints a picture of someone who elicits fear at his appearance. The fact that all other warriors fear and consider him as the best warrior explains why the society treats him with much reverence; he is a classical hero.
Besides the reverence that people have towards him, Achilles has always been a source of fear before his enemies. This trait has always made him scary before his opponents. One of the goddesses in the Greek culture, goddess Hera reveals that the Trojans, who are rivals to Achilles community, tremble at the mention of Achilles. In yet another instance Patrocus refers to Achilles as a man who is by far greater than the Achileans (Lowrey, 2).
As such, Patrocus says that none of the Achileans can surmount any kind of physical challenge to him. Such a statement not only cements the godly character of Achilles, but also confirms peoples belief in him as a man with significant superiority over his peers and opponents where it really matters. Based on these two instances it is quite clear that Achilles is a hero.
The experience that Achilles undergoes while in Combat clearly brings out his heroic characteristics. As Achilles describes his combat experiences, the audience feels how he was devoted to his people, fighting on their behalf to ensure that they enjoy their lives (Lowrey, 3).
In his explanation, it is evident that Achilles spent so many sleepless nights throughout the time of war. He even loses his own blood during the war on behalf of his people; however, this damaging event or his weariness could not discourage him from fighting for the wellbeing of his people; a true character of a hero. He instead, continues to fight on without any fear of injury or death till the end of the war. From these actions, it is vivid that Achilles was a man with exceptional character and deserved to be honored as a hero.
While in Combat, Achilles also reveals that all his selflessness and determination in war have seen him through difficulties. Selfness as a character trait refers to the ability of an individual to care not only about his own welfare, but also the welfare of others who are bound to benefit from his/her efforts no matter how small they may be.
From the way Achilles describes his life during the war, one can tell that he possessed a selfless character. This selfless character clearly comes out during the war period. Referring to this period, Achilles says that he put everything aside and struggled with other warriors during the battle only for the sake of the women of his fellow men (Seamus, 1883).
The move by Achilles to consider the wellbeing of women belonging to other men exposes him as somebody who does not think of self gain out of his struggle. In addition, the fact that he is not married at the time of battle further proves that indeed, he is a selfless character. According to the Greek culture, selflessness is a trait of heroes; therefore, Achilles selflessness qualifies him to be a classical hero.
Besides selflessness, Achilles possesses an enduring character. Endurance refers to the ability of an individual to persevere pain or suffering with the hope of achieving success in the end of the struggle. Achilles ability to endure comes out when he talks about the experience he had in Combat during the war time.
During this trying period, he says that he spent sleepless nights for many days. This was because of his alertness against potential attack by their opponents and only endurance can help an individual to ward off sleep. Besides his sleeplessness, Achilles lost his own blood, not mentioning the pain he underwent through when he sustained the bloody injuries.
Despite these sufferings in sleeplessness and loss of blood through injury, Achilles continued to fight on for the welfare of his people and in the end, he won the battle. It is this relentless spirit that enabled Achilles to emerge victorious in many wars against their enemies and therefore, his perseverance during war portrays him as a classical hero.
Finally, the case of Achilles and Agamemnon also proves Achilles heroic characteristics. Achilles acts of heroism had earlier won him a much coveted prize. It however emerges that Agamemnon tried to take this prize away from Achilles in exchange of expensive gifts; seven strongholds and a daughter of as wife.
Conventionally, these attractive offers by Agamemnon would obviously compel Achilles to consider taking the gifts in lieu of the coveted prize. However, to the surprise of many, Achilles handles this situation in the most rational manner; using his intelligence, he discovers that accepting these gifts would serve to show his acceptance of Agamemnons superior status; therefore, he refuses to take the gifts and the bride offer and instead decides to protect his higher status of heroism.
To Achilles, heroism consists not in the abundance of material things or wives per se, but in character; enduring character. Very few people can readily make such an informed decision. This intelligent move by Achilles is in line with what the Greece culture expects from heroes like him. Consequently, these adherences to the Greek cultural values that govern heroism help bring out Achilles status as a genuine hero.
Conclusion
Heroism is a highly coveted trait in all the cultures across the continents. Before the relevant authorities crown an individual as a hero, they consider his/her achievements which should be extraordinary.
In one such culture, the Greek, heroism is a function of an individuals intelligence, physical appearances, physical capability and his contribution as a warrior in the battlefield. The Greek culture also requires that as a hero, one should always be ready to guard his superior status no matter the consequences or benefits that one would gain by conceding his superiority.
Achilles is a classical hero according to the Greek culture mainly because he possesses all the characteristics needed to qualify an individual as a true hero. Achilles has physical superiority, has outstanding warrior characteristics that his fellow warriors readily acknowledge and he is not ready to relinquish his superior status; not even with a promise of expensive gifts and a bewitching bride.
Works Cited
Anderson, William S. The Art of the Aeneid. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1969.
Jaeger, Werner. Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1939.
Lowrey, Belen. The Hero as a Reflection of Culture. Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History 23.9 (2005): 1-12.
Redfield, James. Nature and Culture in the Iliad. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1975.
Seamus, Heaney. The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2006. 1880- 1903.
Achilles, Aeneas, and Odysseus are the heroes of their respective books. Odysseus played a cameo role in the Illiad and later was the main character of his own epic. They all are the quintessential Heroes of their respective peoples. All that is true, good, and heroic for the Greeks and Romans are idealized in them. A look at their traits quickly reveals the values that make one heroic in the eyes of their people. Odysseus was the wise king of Ithaca who lent much-needed intelligence to the otherwise testosterone-driven campaign of Agamemnon. Swift footed Achilles was lord of the Myrmidons whose deeds of valor are the focus of the Illiad. Finally, pious Aeneas drew forth from the ashes of Troy the folk who would one day rise to become the Romans.
Main body
The Goddess Sings of the Wrath of Achilles, Son of Peleus Begins the Illiad. Chronicled within are the deeds of Achilles, how the Greeks were raised up when he joined them and how misfortune befell when they had not his aid. When Achilles is deprived of maid of honor he abandons the Greeks and they are hapless before Hector and the Trojans. Only when his friend Patroclus is slain is his wrath stirred past his wounded honor and he again fights for the Greeks.
That Aeneas was valiant and skilled in warlike Achilles there can be no doubt. Beyond deeds of bravery, the overarching theme of the Aeneid is Pietas, Piety, which in this case is piety to ones destiny. Upon entering the underworld, Aeneas is introduced to his mighty progeny, the future leaders of Rome. Had he remained in the arms of Dido he would deny them the chance to live and doom the greatness that would be Rome.
As mentioned earlier Odysseus brought much-needed intelligence to Agamemnons mad crusade. The 2006 movie Troy does little justice to the futility and hubris of the Trojan war. According to Homer, the war was actually a long-winded siege lasting over 10 years. Like Achilles, he was specifically sought by Agamemnon because of the skills he could bring the host. The Illiad notes that Odysseus was unwilling to join the army and pretended to be a madman sowing his fields with salt instead of wheat. However, he was outsmarted and soon his Ithacans were numbered in the host of Greeks.
Achilles is the mightiest of all the Greek warriors. Even Hector did not withstand his onslaught. All Trojans fled before his face. His valor and warcraft surpass that of all Greeks, only Ajax is near his peer. In fact, in the Illiad whenever Achilles fought with the Greeks the Trojans were driven before them. When he left the field the tide of battle turned against his fellow Greeks. Much ado in the Illiad tells of the dishonor he suffered from Agamemnon, his decision to quit the field because of it, and the futile efforts of the Greeks to appease him and draw him back to war. He fears not his doom, as shown by his willingness to do battle with Hector despite the counsel of his mother than Hector and He will die soon after the other. Moreover, Achilles is a true friend, upon learning of Patrocluss demise he sets off to challenge Hector to avenge his death.
In the Illiad, Aeneas does not really stand out among the valiant of Troy. In fact, at one point the son of Venus / Aphrodite is thrown to the ground by Ajax and nearly slain. It is Virgil who elevates Aeneas to the level of a demi-god. In the Aenids final chapter he is superhuman in his skill in war and even the mighty King Turnus is turned into a meek lamb before him. Note that this final confrontation is similar to the battle between Achilles and Hector where Hector is humbled by the power of Achilles.
Odysseus valor is never questioned in the Illiad. However, his true virtue is his intelligence. After the death of Achilles, the Greeks were all too willing to quit the field. It was his idea to build the horse that would later become the Trojans downfall. In his own Odyssey, his wit and intelligence deliver him time and again from perils which no other Greek King had to endure. For example, in the meeting with the Cyclops, he was the one who thought of giving the wine to the beast rending it drunk. It was also Odysseus who thought of riding the Cyclops sheep in their bellies so as to escape the blinded monster.
Achilles is not beyond his flaws. He is hidebound to his own code of honor. When his pride is wounded by the taking of his maid of honor, he refuses to sortie with his countrymen, holding himself dishonored. Even as the Trojans come upon the Ships of the Greeks he does absolutely nothing. It is said in the Illiad that the Trojans might well have burned those ships at the port had the gods not intervened. His pride is such that even when Odysseus comes to seek pardon for the misdeed of Agamemnon he remains unmoved. He is also over passionate in his wrath, after defeating Hector he scoffs the corpse by dragging with his chariot much to the dismay of the Trojans.
Likewise, Odysseus was not a perfect warrior. Like all the Greeks he was tinged with bloodlust after the sack of Troy. He too was held guilty by Athena for the rape of her temple in Troy and hence cursed to wander for a decade seeking his precious Ithaca in vain. Immediately after he set off he and his men go off to plunder a nearby island sacking and plundering like pirates. They say that this was because they had become so used to war that they lusted after it. Flawed also was the discipline of his warriors. For example, Circe managed to drug his men into pigs because he could not control their waywardness. Apollos wrath visited them because he allowed his men to roast Apollos sacred caves. Compared to Achilles his flaws are more on the level of being unable to act in time or lack of foresight. Ironic considering that he was the wisest of the Greek kings. However, like Achilles, he is wrathful and terrible when by the power of Athena Penelopes suitors were delivered to him he slew them all mercilessly hewing down even their priest to cleanse Ithaca of their dishonor.
Aeneas flaw comes from his tendency to be lost. Once only does Aeneas become wayward, when bribed by the charms of Dido he almost forsook his quest to found his brave new kingdom. His loins overcame his piety for a while, preferring the ease and comfort of Carthage over the rigors of the sea and the uncertainty of his path. In this regard, he is like Achilles letting his other head do the thinking. Fortunately thanks to Mercury he is set straight back on his course if he had remained in Carthage, and Virgil is to be believed, then there would be no Rome.
His blissful stay in Carthage would be the lowest point in the Aeneid. Forsaking the perils of the road he took up with Dido and lived like a King. Yet in doing so he came furthest from achieving his goal of finding a new home for the Trojan exiles. The time he spent was wasted time, an intermission away from his pious quest.
Araya, greatness, summarizes Achilles. For the Greeks, the ideal is to be the best in whatever one is called to do. Odysseus may have more wit, Agamemnon the greater power over Greeks, But none equal Achilles prowess on the battlefield. They value honor and principle sometimes to the point of foolhardiness. Heedless of Doom or Mortality, the wrath Achilles is indeed worthy of song and praise. In this regard, Achilles was sacred to all warrior Greeks, which encompassed pretty much all the citizens. Spartans no doubt respected his myth dearly. Alexander the Great of Macedon set off on his world-conquering crusade precisely because he wanted his legend to rival that of his idol Achilles.
Odysseus represented what was missing in many Greek heroes; Wisdom. Just as Achilles would be prefixed Swift-footed of Aeneas called Pious he was always Wise Odysseus. His journey was terrible and in the end, all his men were slain and he alone returned to Ithaca. But if he lacked the glory that Achilles basked in, at least he lived to have a happily ever after with his wife Penelope.
Conclusion
Aeneas too would have a happy ending, marriage to a Latin princess, a new kingdom, and a goodly war to end all wars, for a while, in Latinum. More importantly, Aeneas foreshadows the daring of the would-be Romans. Despite the wrathful devices of Juno he eventually comes upon Latinium to establish his new realm. Even as Juno loses war upon his weary people, Aeneas stands tall eager to do deeds of valor in defense of his people. The Aeneid speaks often of Pious Aeneas. Pious to his father, bearing him on his back at the sack of Troy. Pious to his people in not forsaking their quest for the bliss of Carthage. But most of all Pious to his Destiny in founding Rome. The perfect exemplar for the Roman people who in the days of Virgil would seize the day and forge an Empire whose legacy endures to this day.
References
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Vintage Books, 1962.
Parry, Adam. The Two Voices of Virgils AeneidVirgil: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Steele Commager. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall, 1966. 107-123.
The Iliad by Homer Project Gutenberg Version. Web.
The Iliad is one of the most renowned works in the entire history of European literature. The classical epic poem covers the events of the legendary Trojan War, and it should hardly come as a surprise that combat occupies much of the plot. However, while the martial achievements of the mighty heroes on both sides occupy most of the text, this is not all there is to the Iliad. In the poems last book, when the Trojan king Priam comes to the victorious Achilles to beg for the body of his slain son Hector, the epic poem reveals its deeper layer. In an uncharacteristically quiet scene, the two characters talk about fate, war, and loss and discuss how humans may deal with the hardship the gods pile upon them for sheer amusement. Both characters have things to say in this conversation, stressing the point that, despite all their differences, they share the same nature. Priam reminds Achilles that he is still a human, and Achilles urges the Trojan king not to give up under the misfortunes of war because that is also a part of human nature.
As soon as Priam encounters the dreaded Achilles in his encampment, he reminds the mighty Achaean hero of his father, the elderly king of Myrmidons, back home. This is literally the first thing that the king of Troy utters when he prostrates himself before the killer of his son: Think of your father, oh Achilles (Homer, 2010, XXIV). Having begun this speech by reminding the Achaean hero of his parent, who is as old and infirm as Priam himself, the king ends it on the same note. The desperate plea think on your own father and have compassion upon me wraps up his supplication in the same way that it begins (Homer, 2010, XXIV). Achilles is genuinely moved by the old kings words, and they achieve precisely the goal Priam seeks. Grief besets the mighty hero, and he begins weeping along with Priam, as much for his own father as for the dead Patroclus (Homer, 2010). Considering that, one may safely conclude that Priams rhetorical choice was the correct one, but it still leaves the question of why the Trojan king decided to invoke Achilless father specifically.
The answer is fairly simple: Achilless father is the main link that connects the superhuman Achaean warrior to humanity. As any reader would be aware by the last book of the Iliad, the heros mother is an Olympian goddess Thetis, who helps him in her divine capacity more than once throughout the text. Achilles, therefore, is a half-Olympian, and divine blood flows in his veins along with the human one. This is why Juno is so enraged with the idea, shared by many other gods, that Hector deserves the same funeral rites that would befit Achilles. As the furious goddess says, Hector was mortal and suckled at a womans breast, whereas Achilles is the offspring of a goddess (Homer, 2010, XXIV). Yet while his mother is divine, Achilless father is as human as everybody else, which is why Priam reminds the Achaean hero about him. By bringing Achilless father to the great warriors mind, the Trojan king essentially reminds Achilles of his humanity, which is why this moment is so impactful for the character and the audience alike.
While Priam is in a good position to remind the Achaeans of his own aging parent, Achilles experience also enables him to share some wisdom with the Trojan king. Although he has avenged his dear friend Patroclus by killing Hector, revenge does not absolve him of the pain. The last book of the Iliad literally begins by stating that Achilles mourns his fallen friend every bit as much as he did before dueling and slaying Hector (Homer, 2010). By this point, he realizes that war, for all its glory and spoils, does not bring the satisfaction that would be meaningful enough to overcome the pain of losing someone close. Moreover, he understands that all the promises of glory and majesty that the gods use to lure humans into their wars pale in comparison to the excruciating personal loss. This is what he tries to tell Priam by noting that immortals know no care, yet the lot they spin for man is full of sorrow (Homer, 2010, XXIV). Achilles grief for Patroclus allows him to empathize with Priam and also to understand the limitations of emotional fulfillment that war can bring.
However, the Achaean hero goes beyond merely acknowledging the old kings grief and, to the best of his ability, tries to urge Priam to live further. He notes that weeping does not avail from sorrow because it is not within human power to escape it (Homer, 2010). However, he is quick to note also speaking from experience that people can and should not allow grief to consume them whole. Achilles invites Priam to feast and, at least for a short time, sets his sorrows aside (Homer, 2010). This strategy seems to work because, after sharing a meal with the Achaean hero, Priam asks to allocate him a sleeping place. As the king of Troy mentions, he did not eat or enjoy the blessed boon of sleep ever since Achilles took Hectors life and the Greek hero accedes to the request (Homer, 2010, XXIV). Thus, moved by Priams suffering, Achilles pushes him to recognize the limits of his body and pay attention to its needs, which were previously overshadowed by his grief for Hector. Essentially, the hero reminds the reader that, while suffering is human, to go on living is more human still.
As one can see, the interaction between Priam and Achilles in the last book of the Iliad is an uncharacteristically quiet moment when the two characters briefly set enmity aside to recognize their common humanity. To convince the dreaded slayer of Hector to return the fallen heros body, Priam reminds Achilles about his human father and, by extension, of his own human nature. Achilles is moved by the kings grief, as well as by his own recent epiphany that war and revenge bring amusement to gods yet no solace in sorrow for humans. He grimly notes that mortals cannot escape the suffering at the gods hands but spins this notion to the best of his ability to console Priam and urge him to go in with his life. While it is undoubtedly human to grief, Achilles points out that the same human nature requires people to eat and sleep even when sorrow consumes them. Thus, Priam reminds Achilles that he is but a man, and, in turn, Achilles shows Priam that he needs to continue living despite his grief precisely because he is merely a human.
Reference
Homer. (2010). The Iliad. (S. Butler, Trans.). Project Gutenberg. Web.
Achilles, Aeneas, and Odysseus are the heroes of their respective books. Odysseus played a cameo role in the Illiad and later was the main character of his own epic. They all are the quintessential Heroes of their respective peoples. All that is true, good, and heroic for the Greeks and Romans are idealized in them. A look at their traits quickly reveals the values that make one heroic in the eyes of their people. Odysseus was the wise king of Ithaca who lent much-needed intelligence to the otherwise testosterone-driven campaign of Agamemnon. Swift footed Achilles was lord of the Myrmidons whose deeds of valor are the focus of the Illiad. Finally, pious Aeneas drew forth from the ashes of Troy the folk who would one day rise to become the Romans.
Main body
The Goddess Sings of the Wrath of Achilles, Son of Peleus Begins the Illiad. Chronicled within are the deeds of Achilles, how the Greeks were raised up when he joined them and how misfortune befell when they had not his aid. When Achilles is deprived of maid of honor he abandons the Greeks and they are hapless before Hector and the Trojans. Only when his friend Patroclus is slain is his wrath stirred past his wounded honor and he again fights for the Greeks.
That Aeneas was valiant and skilled in warlike Achilles there can be no doubt. Beyond deeds of bravery, the overarching theme of the Aeneid is Pietas, Piety, which in this case is piety to ones destiny. Upon entering the underworld, Aeneas is introduced to his mighty progeny, the future leaders of Rome. Had he remained in the arms of Dido he would deny them the chance to live and doom the greatness that would be Rome.
As mentioned earlier Odysseus brought much-needed intelligence to Agamemnons mad crusade. The 2006 movie Troy does little justice to the futility and hubris of the Trojan war. According to Homer, the war was actually a long-winded siege lasting over 10 years. Like Achilles, he was specifically sought by Agamemnon because of the skills he could bring the host. The Illiad notes that Odysseus was unwilling to join the army and pretended to be a madman sowing his fields with salt instead of wheat. However, he was outsmarted and soon his Ithacans were numbered in the host of Greeks.
Achilles is the mightiest of all the Greek warriors. Even Hector did not withstand his onslaught. All Trojans fled before his face. His valor and warcraft surpass that of all Greeks, only Ajax is near his peer. In fact, in the Illiad whenever Achilles fought with the Greeks the Trojans were driven before them. When he left the field the tide of battle turned against his fellow Greeks. Much ado in the Illiad tells of the dishonor he suffered from Agamemnon, his decision to quit the field because of it, and the futile efforts of the Greeks to appease him and draw him back to war. He fears not his doom, as shown by his willingness to do battle with Hector despite the counsel of his mother than Hector and He will die soon after the other. Moreover, Achilles is a true friend, upon learning of Patrocluss demise he sets off to challenge Hector to avenge his death.
In the Illiad, Aeneas does not really stand out among the valiant of Troy. In fact, at one point the son of Venus / Aphrodite is thrown to the ground by Ajax and nearly slain. It is Virgil who elevates Aeneas to the level of a demi-god. In the Aenids final chapter he is superhuman in his skill in war and even the mighty King Turnus is turned into a meek lamb before him. Note that this final confrontation is similar to the battle between Achilles and Hector where Hector is humbled by the power of Achilles.
Odysseus valor is never questioned in the Illiad. However, his true virtue is his intelligence. After the death of Achilles, the Greeks were all too willing to quit the field. It was his idea to build the horse that would later become the Trojans downfall. In his own Odyssey, his wit and intelligence deliver him time and again from perils which no other Greek King had to endure. For example, in the meeting with the Cyclops, he was the one who thought of giving the wine to the beast rending it drunk. It was also Odysseus who thought of riding the Cyclops sheep in their bellies so as to escape the blinded monster.
Achilles is not beyond his flaws. He is hidebound to his own code of honor. When his pride is wounded by the taking of his maid of honor, he refuses to sortie with his countrymen, holding himself dishonored. Even as the Trojans come upon the Ships of the Greeks he does absolutely nothing. It is said in the Illiad that the Trojans might well have burned those ships at the port had the gods not intervened. His pride is such that even when Odysseus comes to seek pardon for the misdeed of Agamemnon he remains unmoved. He is also over passionate in his wrath, after defeating Hector he scoffs the corpse by dragging with his chariot much to the dismay of the Trojans.
Likewise, Odysseus was not a perfect warrior. Like all the Greeks he was tinged with bloodlust after the sack of Troy. He too was held guilty by Athena for the rape of her temple in Troy and hence cursed to wander for a decade seeking his precious Ithaca in vain. Immediately after he set off he and his men go off to plunder a nearby island sacking and plundering like pirates. They say that this was because they had become so used to war that they lusted after it. Flawed also was the discipline of his warriors. For example, Circe managed to drug his men into pigs because he could not control their waywardness. Apollos wrath visited them because he allowed his men to roast Apollos sacred caves. Compared to Achilles his flaws are more on the level of being unable to act in time or lack of foresight. Ironic considering that he was the wisest of the Greek kings. However, like Achilles, he is wrathful and terrible when by the power of Athena Penelopes suitors were delivered to him he slew them all mercilessly hewing down even their priest to cleanse Ithaca of their dishonor.
Aeneas flaw comes from his tendency to be lost. Once only does Aeneas become wayward, when bribed by the charms of Dido he almost forsook his quest to found his brave new kingdom. His loins overcame his piety for a while, preferring the ease and comfort of Carthage over the rigors of the sea and the uncertainty of his path. In this regard, he is like Achilles letting his other head do the thinking. Fortunately thanks to Mercury he is set straight back on his course if he had remained in Carthage, and Virgil is to be believed, then there would be no Rome.
His blissful stay in Carthage would be the lowest point in the Aeneid. Forsaking the perils of the road he took up with Dido and lived like a King. Yet in doing so he came furthest from achieving his goal of finding a new home for the Trojan exiles. The time he spent was wasted time, an intermission away from his pious quest.
Araya, greatness, summarizes Achilles. For the Greeks, the ideal is to be the best in whatever one is called to do. Odysseus may have more wit, Agamemnon the greater power over Greeks, But none equal Achilles prowess on the battlefield. They value honor and principle sometimes to the point of foolhardiness. Heedless of Doom or Mortality, the wrath Achilles is indeed worthy of song and praise. In this regard, Achilles was sacred to all warrior Greeks, which encompassed pretty much all the citizens. Spartans no doubt respected his myth dearly. Alexander the Great of Macedon set off on his world-conquering crusade precisely because he wanted his legend to rival that of his idol Achilles.
Odysseus represented what was missing in many Greek heroes; Wisdom. Just as Achilles would be prefixed Swift-footed of Aeneas called Pious he was always Wise Odysseus. His journey was terrible and in the end, all his men were slain and he alone returned to Ithaca. But if he lacked the glory that Achilles basked in, at least he lived to have a happily ever after with his wife Penelope.
Conclusion
Aeneas too would have a happy ending, marriage to a Latin princess, a new kingdom, and a goodly war to end all wars, for a while, in Latinum. More importantly, Aeneas foreshadows the daring of the would-be Romans. Despite the wrathful devices of Juno he eventually comes upon Latinium to establish his new realm. Even as Juno loses war upon his weary people, Aeneas stands tall eager to do deeds of valor in defense of his people. The Aeneid speaks often of Pious Aeneas. Pious to his father, bearing him on his back at the sack of Troy. Pious to his people in not forsaking their quest for the bliss of Carthage. But most of all Pious to his Destiny in founding Rome. The perfect exemplar for the Roman people who in the days of Virgil would seize the day and forge an Empire whose legacy endures to this day.
References
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Vintage Books, 1962.
Parry, Adam. The Two Voices of Virgils AeneidVirgil: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Steele Commager. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall, 1966. 107-123.
The Iliad by Homer Project Gutenberg Version. Web.
‘Beowulf’ and ‘Iliad’ are two popular literary works written in Old English and Ancient Greek. Both poems illustrates the fights between main characters and the stronger one is the winner. While Beowulf in ‘Beowulf’ won against Grendel – a disgusting cold-blooded monster- to protect Danes and show his respect to his cousin, the king. Achilles in ’Iliad’ killed Hector to revenge his beloved cousins death. Both of the characters owned outstanding traits to be an epic hero, including bravery, strength and supernatural abilities.
In the warrior society and Homer’s ‘Iliad’, bravery is believed to be the most important factor to evaluate a man or a hero. Even though Beowulf and Achilles both proved that they were brave, their courage and determination were illustrated in different situations from each other. Beowulf says, ”Now Grendel and I are called together, and I’ve come”. He leaves his people – the Geats of Scandinavia – to help Hrothgar, the king of the Danish people. Despite being apart from his beloved family and friends, Beowulf decides to start his long journey to fight with Grendel, a monster that attacks the king’s hall and devours the his men. Beowulf makes a decision without thinking much because he believes that his duty ‘was to go to the Danes’ Great king…they have seen my strength for themselves”. Meanwhile, Achilles’s courage is because he “vowed to take revenge for Patroclus after the Trojan prince Hector kill him. He chased Hector back to Troy, slaughtering Trojans all the way.” Even though Achilles knows it is not easy to revenge his friend death, he still chases Hector in order to finish his life. Achilles enters the territory of the Trojans forcefully, without fear and makes Hector feels unsafe and worried. Achilles performs many heroic deeds on the battleground and adds renown to his name among the Greeks.
Besides courage, strength is also an important factor in assessing a hero. Beowulf’s strength has been recognized by everyone for a long time through his biggest accomplishments in life. “A prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel/Ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering/Forced on Hrothgar’s helpless people/By a bloodthirsty fiend”. Beowulf wins the fight with Grendel and rescues everyone in Herot from being killed by powerful and fierce Grendel. While “the sharpest and hardest iron could not scratch at Grendel skin”, Beowulf uses nothing but brute strength to fight Grendel and rips his arm off before Grendel runs and painfully dies in the dirty swamp. Meanwhile, Achilles owns several victories himself. He shows his absolute physical power over Hector – Trojan prince and the greatest fighter for Troy in the Trojan War – in their solo battle. Hector tries to make a deal with him, asking for the loser to be returned to their family, but Achilles says no. He demonstrated his strength advantage by stabbing Hector in the throat and killing him is the most brutal way possible. “Beg me no beggary by soul or parents, whining dog!… You’ll have no bed of death, nor will you be laid out and mourned by her who gave you birth. Dogs and birds will have you, every scrap”.
Last but not least, Achilles and Beowulf both possess supernatural power that human beings dream of. In ‘Beowulf’, it says, “No Dane doubted./The victory, for the proof, hanging high/From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the/Monsters/Arm, claw and shoulder and all”. Although Grendel has rendered the weapons of the man useless, Beowulf is not afraid of it. Instead, he exhibits his superhuman strength in his ability to fight the monster Grendel with his bare hands. In addition, his victory is a resounding feat which illustrate not only his distinguish ability to fight but also his respect to his cousin- the King of the Geats- that he risks his life for another warrior society. Meanwhile, Achillies “was dunked into the River Styx, whose waters were said to confer the invulnerability of the gods. However, the water never touched his heel so Achilles was invulnerable everywhere but there”/ Not anyone can reach the River Styx because it is ony available for the gods; therefore, Achilles is distinguish for his priority to access magic water source when he was an infant. Achilles is special because his immortal ability helps him to win several fights and achieve glorious victories. While other young man at the same time can lose their live during any fight, Achilles experienced several battles without being afraid of being killed.
In conclusion, Beowulf and Achillies are both brave and strong heroes who own impressive achievements and supernatural power in the stories. Despite being written for a long time, their stories – ‘Beowulf’ and ‘Iliad’ – are now still be widespread told with respect and admiration. They are not only good models for bravery but they also illustrate great life style of heroes and stories about them have great spiritual value to humanity.
The passage in book eighteen of the ‘Iliad’ takes readers to a scene of the Trojan War, fought between the Achaeans, led by Achilles, and Trojans, led by Hector. At a particular point during the war, Achilles chose to stop fighting, which took a negative toll on the Achaean army. Achilles did not choose to fight again until his comrade, Patroclus, was killed in battle by Hector. Achilles claimed, “I’ve lost the will to live…unless, before all else, Hector’s battered down by my spear and gasps away his life. I’ll lie in peace, once I’ve gone down to death. But now, for the moment, let me seize great glory”. It can be interpreted by Achilles’ quote that he is willing to die in order to attain eternal glory and immortality. Achilles is choosing to die heroically in battle for the sake of revenge, but more importantly to be remembered as a strong warrior and have a glorious reputation forever.
Diotima’s speech, outlined in the Symposium, is the crux for the argument that Achilles has an ultimate desire for immortality. According to Diotima, the desire for immortality begins with love. First, love is not simply being loved, but rather being a lover of beautiful or good things. Additionally, being a lover of good things means that one desires those good things to be their own and to achieve happiness in turn. If one is truly in love with the good they have attained, one might wish to pursue that good, and resulting happiness, forever. Diotima claims that eternal love of the good thing is possible by “giving birth in the presence of beauty” because reproduction is an “immortal thing” for a mortal to do. This reproduction can either be biological or intellectual, as explained by Diotima. Biological reproduction can be described as a human physically giving birth to offspring in order to pass an immortal legacy down the family line. In contrast, intellectual reproduction can be described as giving birth to lasting achievement as a way of being glorified and remembered forever. Overall, it can be argued that Achilles had a great desire for immortality because he coveted both biological and intellectual reproduction; he had a son and chose to die in battle for the sake of honor and eternal glory. This claim can be supported by Diotima’s query to Socrates, written in the Symposium: “Do you really think that…Achilles would have died after Patroclus, or that Kodros would have died so as to preserve the throne for his sons, if they hadn’t expected the memory of their virtues – which we still hold in honor – to be immortal? Far from it. I believe that anyone will do anything for the sake of immortal virtue and the glorious fame that follows; for they are in love with immortality”. Diotima’s teachings verify that Achilles acted out of desire for immortality.
Evidence that Achilles successfully achieved immortality, after mortal death, is demonstrated in an excerpt of the Odyssey, book eleven. During a trip to the underworld, Odysseus comes into contact with Achilles’ ghost. Achilles expresses that he is very upset about his death, but Odysseus confirms that he was “respected like a god” and should not be “bitter” about his death. The affirmation Achilles wanted about his reputation, while still alive, validates the desire he had to achieve immortality through intellectual reproduction. Next, Achilles asks about his son, Neoptolemus. Odysseus explains that Neoptolemus: “…never paused in the great throng of battle; he was always fearlessly running forward, and he slaughtered enormous numbers in the clash of war. No sharp bronze spear had wounded him at all; he was unhurt by all the skirmishes endured in war”.
Then, Achilles’ ghost “took great strides across the fields of asphodel, delighted to have heard about the glorious prowess of his son”. The body language of Achilles provides evidence he is happy and confident to have achieved virtuous immortality through biological and intellectual reproduction. Achilles successfully obtained his goal of having a glorious reputation forever through being a great warrior, and father. As a result, Achilles ultimately acquired immortality.
The Iliad is a testament to the Greek ideals of war and glory, as it fantasizes the glorious triumphs of Achilles and the Trojans. Famous for his rage made apparent in the opening of the poem, Achilles is the greatest warrior in all of Greece, and his competence and skill are a main driver of the story portrayed and the decisions of the protagonist. While the importance of honor and glory through war is the most important part of Greek society, and the Iliad, I assert that Homer highlighted the true costs of these ideals through the tragedies, loss, and hardships brought on Achilles by his greed for glory and victories.
Throughout the Iliad is grotesque and shocking depictions of war, seemingly placed by Homer to cause the reader to visualize the true nature of these battles, contrary to what we see the usual fantasized images of war. By describing in great detail who is dying and how it happened, Homer brings to life the idea that these pursuits of glory are not glorious in nature but are only seen as honorable after the fact from a third party. To become a hero and to be immortalized as a true Greek means you have to act in a completely inhuman way. This idea underlines the plot of Achilles weighing whether being remembered or surviving peacefully through a battle he is not invested in is the most important.
Hector description of morality and glory is highlighted in Achilles’ going against what the reader would expect from a hero in his treatment of Hector’s body. Fueled by rage and vengeance, Achilles defiles Hectors body by dragging it back and forth and mistreating it completely in terms of Greek burials and death. So much so that the gods must intervene and protect Hectors body from being destroyed and abused. By bringing in intervention from the gods to protect a corpse from Achilles’ actions, Hector sets the stage for how wrong and gruesome war can be. In the Iliad, Achilles is bound by fate to succeed for the most part. The gods aid him in many ways to further the destiny of Achilles except for this moment. This is a very important scene in the poem that almost seems like the gods are questioning who they are supposed to be supporting. The actions of Achilles paint him as a inhumane maniac overcome with vengeance.
To sum up, I have argued that the true nature of the Iliad is an example of an epic directly contrasting the culture and ideals it is usually said to praise. Homer’s vivid descriptions of battles and scenes with the gods seem to go against everything the Greeks hold dear. Even though Achilles is the most written about character, Hector seems to become the true embodiment of Greek ideology and is the last person to be written about. Maybe the poem is a cautionary tale depicting Achilles as the Greek hero pushed off course from his own ideals, and we should view Hector as the true Greek.
When beset with grief during times of great crisis, a leader must adopt change or risk becoming powerless to the changing world. In the novel ‘Ransom’, David Malouf expresses the many facets of leaders who are faced with tragic loss, demonstrating how grief may overcome them, and ultimately disempower them. Similarly, Stephen Frears likewise presents leaders faced with crisis in his movie ‘The Queen’, who consequently become helpless when they are incapable of adopting the change in the society they rule.
As a leader faces times of great crisis, it is crucial they are able to maintain a balance between emotion and stoicism in order to uphold power over the kingdom they rule. Achilles, when faced with the tragic death of his close friend Patroclus in battle, is left child-like by his anguish as he “weeps without restraint… on the ground” while “rocking back and forth”. Malouf presents Achilles as completely overcome by emotion, incapable of action as he is incapable of controlling his own grief. As such, Malouf demonstrates the absolute disempowerment of a leader who cannot control their emotion, as Achilles becomes completely helpless by loss and can only wallow in despair. This is in stark juxtaposition to Achilles’ role to his followers, who idolise him as a strong warrior that will lead them in battle. Hence, Malouf demonstrates Achilles’ failure as a leader when overcome by grief, who while praised for his strength in battle, becomes helpless to his emotions.
Contrasting this however, Frears rather depicts how a leader may be overcome by the need to remain stoic that they too fail as a leader. In wake of Princess Diana’s tragic death, the Queen stubbornly maintains the traditional notion of “mourning… Quietly, with dignity” in “restrained grief”. As such, by upholding this stoicism that she believes the British people are “admired for”, the Queen ultimately becomes chastised by her people, who call for her to allow a public funeral such that they may “share in the grief”. Hence, Frears depicts the opposite extreme when a leader is faced with crisis, where while Achilles becomes helpless to his emotion, the Queen’s power degrades over her people who reprimand her for not expressing her sorrow enough. As such, both authors demonstrate the importance of maintaining balance between being stoic and expressing emotion as a leader, where while Malouf depicts an overwhelming emotion as a betrayal of power, Frears identifies stubborn stoicism of a leader as a betrayal to their people, both extremes causing complete powerlessness of a leader.
In times of crisis, as a leader becomes powerless to grief, it is crucial they establish change in both themselves, and to tradition itself, in order to maintain power over their people. ‘Ransom’, which is set thousands of years prior to ‘The Queen’ during the Trojan War depicts a kingdom in which “a King… has to act in full assurance of what the Gods have called him to”, depicting them as subjects to the whims of their higher powers. As such, when faced with crisis, King Priam becomes torn between his duties as a father and as a “mortal”, who must face the daily desecration of his son’s body by Achilles, and his duty as a subject of the Gods in ruling his kingdom. This latter notion subsequently disempowers Priam who becomes a “ceremonial figurehead” that “might as well be made of stone”, in which he is objectified, becoming disempowered to act as a “mortal man”.
Similarly, the Queen too faces objectification by a higher power. However, the Queen governs over the modern world in which the media are depicted as an everwatching power that judges her decisions, much like the Gods are to Priam. She too faces a predetermined role that is expressed by the press that she faces scrutiny for acting against the morals of. Hence, in order for her to maintain power, she is forced to confront it, speaking to it and aligning with its morals. As such, she must face change to the traditions she previously followed to appease this higher power, the media, by publicly expressing her sorrow on television. Priam too faces change, however he does so by publically acting against the Gods, acting “impulsively” he is enabled to “act for himself” and ultimately able “to try something that might force events into a different course” outside what is preordained by the Gods. As such, Malouf establishes the need to change as a necessary requirement during crisis in order to maintain, or establish, the power to act as a mortal, without the oppression of the Gods. Conversely, Frears depicts a leader’s change as to better align with the higher powers, such that they are empowered to act as a leader once more.
As a leader undergoes the arduous journey towards change in times of grief, while they may become disempowered by it, those who guide them through change may become empowered as a result. Tony Blair, who is appointed Prime Minister by his people in a “landslide election”, is still required, despite his power, to follow the Queen. However, as she faces the harsh scrutiny of her people, in which she becomes unfavourable as a leader to them, Tony Blair becomes empowered as an aid to the Queen towards approval. In his frequent phone calls, Blair depicts this power as he begins expressing the disempowerment of the Royalty, switching from suggesting action to the Queen, to demanding it. Similarly, Somax becomes empowered too, as he becomes the literal guide for Priam towards his goal, as well as the metaphoric guide for Priam towards his personal change. Somax, who being lower class, held no political power, became a figure ultimately in charge of Priam’s safety. As such, both Malouf and Frears demonstrate how, as a leader, they may be guided towards change and ultimately disempowered as a result, those who lead them may become empowered by this grief.
Hence, both Frears and Malouf explore the many facets in which a leader may become disempowered during times of tragic crisis as they are faced with both their own, and their people’s grief. Consequently, both authors also express how a leader must be willing to adopt change in order to maintain power over their people, warning of the dangers complete disempowerment may cause.
The conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon is one of the major plotlines in the Iliad. One aspect of it concerns Achilles’ woman, Briseis. Agamemnon took her as his prize instead of the daughter of Chryses, the priest of Apollo. Chryses tried to release the daughter. He suggested a ransom, but Agamemnon only agreed to exchange his daughter for another prize. Thus, he selected Briseis as his reward.
Achilles was furious with this fact but could not decide what to do, “whether to draw his sword, push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and check his anger” (Homer 9). That is when Minerva came and told him that “you shall hereafter receive gifts three times as splendid by reason of this present insult. Hold, therefore, and obey” (Homer 10). However, Achilles was blinded by the revenge and refused to fight for the Achaeans. Moreover, he asks his mother, Thetis, to help Trojans win the war. When the Achaeans were almost defeated, Agamemnon decided to send Achilles gifts and persuade him to join the army.
Odysseus was the first to speak. He greeted Achilles, described the disastrous situation, and asked him to rise:
“So rouse yourself, late though it may be,
if you have a mind to save Achaeans
from their suffering at this Trojan onslaught.
If not, you’ll suffer future agonies.
You won’t find any cure for such despair.
Before that happens, you should think about
how to help Argives at this evil hour.
My friend, that day your father, Peleus,
sent you off, away from Phthia,
to join Agamemnon, didn’t he say this” (Homer 259)
Achilles was promised the following presents:
“seven tripods
which fire has not yet touched, ten gold talents,
twenty shining cauldrons, twelve strong horses
whose speed has triumphed, earned them prizes-
a man who’s won as much as Agamemnon
from racing these sure-footed animals
would not be poor or lack possessions
or precious gold. Then he will add to this
seven women of Lesbos, skilled in crafts” (Homer 261).
However, Achilles refused to take the gifts and claimed he did not believe Agamemnon. The second man to persuade Achilles was Phoenix. He promised all the possible honors to Achilles if he returns and saves the Achaeans. Nevertheless, Achilles responded that he did not need any honors. The third speaker, Ajax, did not address Achilles directly but spoke to his friends. He claimed that Achilles had no pity and advised Achilles to turn the evil in his heart into good. However, Achilles refused to return and help still feeling insulted by Agamemnon.
I believe that the choice of Achilles was not correct. He was one of the prominent warriors of the Achaeans. Since he was a son of a goddess, he was gifted with particular power. Definitely, as a man, he had a right to be offended. Nevertheless, then the lives of his people were in danger, he had to forget his offenses and help. His behavior was selfish. Thus, the criticism provided by Diomedes can be treated as fair. As for Ajax’s argument that even someone who has lost a relative must accept some form of compensation and reconcile, it is ambiguous. On the one hand, no gift can replace a close person. On the other hand, if the fate of many people depends on a person’s behavior in grief, that person should not consider just his or her feelings.