A hero in the society can be defined as an individual who is admired and emulated by everyone because of his superior virtues and character that the culture or the society has. A Hero has virtues and attributes that are adored, valued and desired by many.
The ideals of a given culture are determined by the social –cultural conditions of a society or can also be greatly influenced by the views and the perceptions of the author. The motivations and the actions of a hero greatly determine the society view towards them.
The Iliad is one of the ancient literatures that date between 900 and 750 B.C. The events took place in the ancient Greek Bronze Age. During the time, the Greek region was filled with strife and there was need for strong men to provide defense to the community.
One of the heroic acts was to become a great warrior who feared nothing. In the Greek Dark Age, most of the rulers were the warrior class and they had to show the ability to defend the land and its populace.
In the Iliad, the two main heroic characters were Achilles and Hector. These two were drawn from the two main armies, that is, the Greek army and the Trojan army. These two warriors share some commonalities as well as differences (Samuel 5).
The two heroes share some common features that distinguish them as heroes. Both were great warriors from both sides. The two warriors were strong and had high confidence in themselves. During the duel between the two warriors, they were confident that they would beat each other. The two warriors were also men of honor and had pride.
Hector refused to retreat when ordered by his father Priam while Achilles decided to avenge the death of Patroclus. Both warriors also wanted glory and everyone to respect them. Another similarity is that both warriors are faithful to their family and friends. Achilles decides to forget his differences with the Agamemnon so as to avenge the death of his friend. He also wept bitterly for the loss of his friend Patroclus (Samuel 25).
The Ilaid also shows a number of differences between the two warriors. Prince hector is viewed as an epitome of the humane warrior and a fierce fighter. He is courageous and even fights the Greek giant Ajax. He is humane and is portrayed as been a father and a loving son to his aging parents. He also loves to his wife Andromache.
On the other hand, Achilles is depicted as a rough cruel and unmerciful warrior. He only has her mother and Patroclus his friend. Even though hector pleads with Achilles to allow him get a decent burial, Achilles kills hectors and drags his body on his chariot as a sign of dishonouring and disrespecting him. Achilles is mostly portrayed as a man of rage and furious. His anger towards the Agamemnon made Achilles to stop fighting for the Greeks and decided to fall back (McKenzie, 6)
Unlike hector, Achilles fights for the glory and honour of his name. He has excessive pride and has no regard or love for his countrymen. This is seen when he withdraws from the war leaving the Greek venerable to death. Achilles is also very individualistic and full of vengeance. Hector is an honourable and patriotic man. He fights to defend his own kingdom and the people of Troy as well as his honour.
Achilles is also depicted as a traditional epic hero. The Iliad discuss him as a superhuman that cannot be conquered but having a weakness only in his kneel. Hector is not deemed as invisible but as a person who can be conquered. The king urges hector not to fight Achilles indicating that Priam feared his son would be defeated.
Works Cited
Samuel, Butler. Homer’s The Iliad. New York: Orange Street Press. 1998. Print.
Rage of Gods Enslaves People: Relationships between Apollo and Agamemnon
The Iliad is one of the most famous and educative epic poems created in the world of literature. Among a variety of themes disclosed in the poem, it is hard to define the one that deserves attention the most. Each theme and each message of the author is a unique possibility for the reader to learn the traditions which came from the past and the emotions which made different people act to change the world.
Each character in The Iliad performs a separate function and defines the development of the events in its way. In this paper, the conflict between the principle god of prophecy, Apollo, and the king of Mycenae, Agamemnon, will be discussed to evaluate how human actions and decisions may influence the lives of many people at the same time.
In The Iliad, the relations between two characters, Agamemnon and Apollo, as well as their motivation and passion help to underscore the theme of power and rage; the conflict between the characters is based on revenge, and both heroes prove that their activities and their ideas have powerful grounds to be recognized and respected; unfortunately, it is not always possible to control the conflicts which are developed between people, and if the relations between gods and humans are spoiled by conflict, it remains to be hard to control the whole life with its positive and negative aspects.
The conflict between Agamemnon and Apollo is based on rage, and this rage is different: on the one hand, it is Apollo, the god, who demonstrates his rage due to inabilities to control people and his desire to revenge to educate people and explain them their actual place; on the other hand, it is Agamemnon, the king, who cannot accept the idea that someone could resist his power and his greatness as soon as he wants it.
These two characters are the representatives of different worlds: “Agamemnon, son of Atreus, that king of men” and “Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto” (Homer, Johnson, and Johnson, p. 7); however, both of them have enough power to take control over the events, and both of them are ready to fight to prove their rights. The first book is devoted to the conflict that became the beginning of the end of the whole nation’s existence. The relations of the god and the kind are at the deadlock. These characters are motivated with a desire to gain power and recognition, still, people can’t choose at once whose power is more important, this is why it is not a surprise to observe the king and the god conflicting with each other.
The impossibility to create appropriate relations, they promote rage as the only way out that results in conflict with many death and misunderstandings. This is why in the first book, the relations between Apollo and Agamemnon as well as their motivation to use power against each other described clearly the idea of rage, its variety, and its impact on human lives which may be involved in the conflict.
The continuation of the conflict is observed during the whole poem, still, the climax of the conflict is properly defined in the 16th book of The Iliad, where Apollo is described as the defender of Trojans, “the far-worker, loves his Trojans” (Homer, Johnson, and Johnson, p.343) and helps Hector to kill Patroclus. God’s rage is a significant issue in the poem. It explains how weak and uncertain people can be in case they do not contain the necessary power.
The chosen relations and the conflict between the god and the kind prove that humans as well as god’s rage may be of different forms. There is no pity in Apollo’s mind who “rained death down upon the troops” for about nine days (Homer, Johnson, and Johnson, p. 9). The relations between these two characters turn out to be a good example of how human emotions and feelings are weak regarding the power of gods.
There is only one way to stop human suffering, still, Agamemnon is not ready to take a step and admit his mistake. And Apollo, in his turn, “does not fault us [Danaans] for prayers or offerings… the archer god has brought disaster, and will bring still more” (Homer, Johnson, and Johnson, p. 10). The relations between gods and people are not equal, and even having a chance to change something, people cannot neglect their self-esteem.
The relationship between Agamemnon and Apollo turns out to be an educative issue in the book. It touches upon the theme of human and god’s rage that involves the whole nation into the conflict based on human inability to find alternatives. And the conflict between Agamemnon and Apollo as well as the motivation of the characters helps to disclose one of the main themes of the poem and prove that rage and power are the two things which can influence human lives, relations, and destinies in the most unpredictable ways.
Why Is It so Difficult to Be a Hero?
There are several doubts and discussions around the question concerning heroism and the main traits of true heroes. It is interesting to know why some people are still defined as true heroes and some people cannot even realize the essence of heroism. The Iliad by Homer is a story about true heroes, worthwhile acts, and ideas that have been supported during a long period. Talking about the heroes in The Iliad, the character of Achilles has to be mentioned at first.
His actions, position, and motivation serve as the best evidence of why such a character may become a hero. And talking about the heroes in modern life, it is not always possible to define the main characteristics of heroism. To become a hero means to become an example for other people who observes the actions and try to follow the offered ideas; though Achilles may become a perfect example of a hero from the past, his image is not enough to define what can make a true hero in 2011, this is why, it is necessary to define his main traits and values to realize that even nowadays, there are the people whose actions worth recognition as the heroic ones.
The Heroic Code is a collection of principles under which people follow their own beliefs and demonstrate their courageous and deeds to meet a noble purpose. Achilles is introduced at the very beginning of the book as “Sing, Goddess, sing of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus” (Homer, Johnson, and Johnson, p. 7). From the very first lines, it is clear that the role of this character is considered to be important in the poem.
It is not enough to introduce a hero, it is necessary to choose the most confident and powerful attributes for him like “noble”, “swift-footed”, and “godlike”. Each his phrase and thought has a meaning in the poem; his courageous deeds and unbelievable transformation to meet the needs of society prove that he can be a hero whole life experience will become educative for further generations.
One of the memorable quotes said by Achilles is the Book One is about the necessity to prove personal rights and demonstrate unbelievable courage to the enemy: “I fear we’re being beaten back, forced home,/ if we aren’t all going to be destroyed right here,/ with war and plague killing off Achaeans” (Homer, Johnson, and Johnson, p. 9). He is ready to fight against his fears; he is strong enough to explain that he may be defeated, still, he may encourage several people and help them to prove their dignity and their rights.
Is it possible to find heroes like Achilles in the modern world? Hardly! First, the conditions under which people have to live today have nothing in common with those under which Achilles lived. Even his courage cannot be taken as a standard under which a true hero may be defined. Nowadays, it is necessary to understand that “heroism should not be confused with strength and success… the hero must touch people’s emotions” (“Essay: On the Difficulty of Being a Contemporary Hero”, p.2).
Still, the components of the Heroic Code like courage, brave deeds, and peculiar transformations should never be neglected by modern heroes. Of course, there are different forms of such components which should be adopted by a new reality of 2011. Courage should be enough to take a step and understand that some transformations are needed; brave deeds should be used to prove that new ideas and heroic activities are obligatory in society; and finally, making some changes and improvements is the goal number one for all heroes in 2011.
Each person has his/her understanding of heroism and creates personal heroes regarding their interests and demands. It is a well-known fact that heroes are “different from those of any other society” (“Essay: On the Difficulty of Being a Contemporary Hero”, p. 2), this is why each nation and even each ethnical group should introduce its ideas of true heroes. It is obligatory to be a hero inside and be a worthwhile part of society so that people around could accept the offered image as the best example in their lives. And these examples, in their turn, become the required guides with the help of which life can be better and human satisfaction could be of high level.
Works Cited
“Essay: On the Difficulty of Being a Contemporary Hero”. Time U.S. 1966. Web.
Homer, Johnson, Ian, and Johnson, Ian, C. The Iliad. Arlington: RicherResourcesPublications, 2006.
Hector is the son of Priam, the leader of the Trojan army. Like Achilles, he is guided by military honor in all his actions, and at the same time, he realizes that he is responsible to his people, whose interests he must protect. Homer shows how two aspirations to fight in the hero’s soul: avoid defeat in the war and keep his reputation as a brave warrior and hero unblemished. Thus, the hero’s image is more complicated than the image of his primary opponent, Achilles. Hector’s behavior is often contradictory since the motives for his actions are either a thirst for glory, which is typical of an epic hero), or an understanding of the duty to the fatherland and the people, which he, as the son of the king and leader, has no right to sacrifice in pursuit of the reputation of an invincible warrior.
Rejecting the advice of the experienced military leader Polydamus, who, referring to a bad omen, dissuades Hector from attacking the Achaean camp, the hero declares: “The omen is the best – to fight bravely for the fatherland” (Bakker, 2017, p. 59). However, when Hector is persuaded to return to Troy, not to remain on the battlefield and evade a duel with Achilles, Hector does not act as a wise cautious leader, but as a warrior driven by ambition and passion. His pride does not allow him to seek protection behind the fortified walls of the city. Even anticipating his death, which, as he perfectly understands, will inevitably entail Troy’s fall and take, Hector neglects the interests of the country and enters into single combat with Achilles, which is fatal for him. And yet, before his death, G. admits that he acted rashly: “The last citizen can say in Ilion: Hector ruined the people, relying on his strength!” (Schironi, 2018, p. 34). The character of Hector is striking in his deep adherence to principles. For him, the most important thing is to fight for his homeland and his people.
For all his religiosity, which Homer emphasizes in him more than once, he prefers military exploits. He cannot stand the shame between Trojans and Trojans for their poor performance in the war. He is not afraid to admit his military mistakes and covers them with his heroism. Flaming with a passion for military exploits, he, contrary to his elders’ advice, put his troops against Achilles and did not take them to Troy, although his death and the death of many Trojans were apparent. Awareness of his duty, shame before compatriots in the event of his betrayal, the habit of fighting in the forefront – these thoughts come to him even when parting with the Andromache. Hector’s heart trembles at the sight of the superbly armed Ajax.
He does not even have the thought of evading the battle or fighting in any dishonest way without attacking openly and nobly. A wound in the neck and knees not only does not stop him but also provokes even more. However, Homer portrays Hector with all his psychological weaknesses, vacillations, and uncertainties for all his heroism and all his adherence to principles. Hector thinks that it is worthless to capture the golden shield of Nestor and the colorful shell of Diomedes, made by Hephaestus himself. But, of course, nothing comes of it. He is so confident in his victory over the Achaeans that he is ready to compare himself with Apollo and Pallas Athena, although he knows very well that it is not the Achaeans who must die, but Troy.
References
Schironi, F. (2018). The Best of the Grammarians: Aristarchus of Samothrace on the Iliad. University of Michigan Press.
Bakker, E. (2017). Hector (and) the race horse: The telescopic vision of the Iliad. The Winnowing Oar–New Perspectives in Homeric Studies, 57-74.
Numerous battle scenes are included in the epic, which provides insights into the way the war and men at war were seen at that time. For instance, the battle describing the courage of Patroclus unveils the major themes arising in the descriptions of such scenes (Homer 235). First, the author pays considerable attention to such details as armament. Warriors are often given specific attributes such as “silver-footed Thetis” and weapons are also well-defined as warriors are killed with “cold bronze” (Homer 235). Such details suggest that armament was an important theme as it stood for the wealth and might of the army.
Battle scenes are also characterized by the description of the mental state of men who are mainly outraged and committed to revenge on their enemies. Homer also illustrates the satisfaction warriors display when they kill their enemies as every hero falls “much to the pleasure” of their rivals (Homer 236). Battle scenes are full of violence and detailed descriptions of wounds that cause death. Thus, Homer describes fighters as brutal creatures that focus on killing their enemies with all means available to them. The expression of grief and joy is another characteristic feature of the epic poem. Interestingly, men are rather emotional on the battlefield, as described by the ancient author.
Patroclus is always beside Achilles to support him in the saddest moments and the moments of his rage. Patroclus remains loyal to Achilles in his rage regarding Agamemnon’s actions, which is highly appreciated by the renowned Greek hero. Achilles shows his great respect for Patroclus when he asks him to make sacrifices (Homer 220). Patroclus remains loyal to Achilles even at the moment of his death. The young man dying on the battlefield still calls his beloved companion “Peleus’ perfect son” without any remorse or pity for himself (Homer 242). This loyalty shows that the friendship of Achilles and Patroclus was a perfect relationship as seen by the Greeks.
Achilles asked his young friend to be reasonable and remain calm, avoiding dangerous battles. These two Greeks were ready to give their lives for each other, and they did so. Patroclus died because he followed his companion in a brutal war. Achilles died blinded by his rage, remembering the death of his beloved friend.
Uncontrollable emotions seemed one of the biggest threats to the well-being of the society at large, which can be assumed when reading the Iliad. Homer starts the epic poem with Achilles’ rage, which shows the Greeks’ attitude towards this kind of emotion (189). Achilles’ rage is described as “black and murderous” and causing “incalculable pain” (Homer 189). The encounter between Achilles and Agamemnon shows that all people who tried to resolve the conflict focused on Achilles’ emotions although they tried to make both parties satisfied. All speakers mentioned the hero’s rage and expressed their negative attitude toward such emotions. They emphasize that one of the greatest Greeks has to “swallow his temper” (Homer 191). They see Achilles’ rage as the major obstacle to the entire military campaign.
This universal desire to take negative emotions under control suggests that Greeks feared uncontrollable emotions, especially such feelings as rage. They saw this emotional state as devastating and made rational decisions impossible. On the one hand, this shows that Greeks were eager to ensure critical thinking and proper decision-making. On the other hand, they also admitted that humans were bound to strong emotions that could hardly be suppressed, which could result in conflicts and even wars. The entire Trojan War, as depicted by Homer, was a result of Menelaus’ rage due to the loss of his property and wife.
Work Cited
Homer. “The Iliad.” The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, edited by Martin Puchner et al., 9th ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2014, pp. 232-324.
Arming description is an important part of the Iliad. It could be stated that these scenes have their significance and symbolism. One of the most famous arming scenes in the Iliad is the description of Achilles’ arming, in particular, shield. Another well-known scene is Agamemnon’s shield description in Book XI. A shield is an important part of arming because it is the main protection of the hero. Therefore, it is interesting to compare two descriptions of the shields and to find similarities, differences, and symbolism of arming.
In Book XI, Agamemnon’s shield was described. This shield has ten circles of bronze all around it. Its body has twenty white tin bosses and the dark one boss in the middle. This dark boss demonstrated the head of Medusa Gorgon. On both sides of it, there were Rout and Panic. The shield’s silver band was decorated with the image of writhing three-headed snake (Homer 255). It could be supposed that the symbolism of these images is quite simple. This shield should scare Agamemnon’s enemies and encourage him on fearless fighting.
Achilles got his shield from Hephaestus. It was made by this God Himself. The description of Achilles’ shield was different. First, it is much more detailed and has more images on it. There were a lot of scenes and elements on the shield: peaceful scenes inside and outside the city, battle scenes, God’s life, and the ocean with swans and dolphins (Homer 488-494). It could be stated that it is not the kind of shield that a brave warrior would be expected to carry. In comparison to Agamemnon’s shield, there were no elements which might scare the Achilles’ enemies. This shield has more philosophical and symbolic elements.
It could be stated that in shield description, Homer intentionally included scenes that reflect scenes from the poem. First, images of battles reflect plenty of battles scenes’ description in Books II-VII, (Homer 27-157), XII-XVI (Homer 290-438), and others. In the Iliad, description of battles has an important meaning. It could be supposed that Homer tried to highlight the horror of the war and focused the reader’s attention on it by providing a description of such scenes on the shield. Second, to contrast the war, the Iliad contains only a few descriptions of peaceful life. For example, a scene of making a sacrifice provided on the shield corresponds to the similar scene in Book I (Homer 9). This comparison is essential for understanding the meaning of the shield’s description.
It is important to understand that Achilles’ shield is like a piece of art which should be analyzed not only in details but as the whole. Shield’s decoration describes different aspects of life and death cycle. In general, it provides the comparison between peace and war; it highlights the terrible consequences of battles. By this description, it was underlined that it was important to make a sacrifice to prevent these terrible consequences.
It could be supposed that Achilles’ shield is a symbol of his decision to sacrifice his own life for the victory. Achilles knew that killing Hector would mean his own death. However, it seems to be not that important for him comparing to the importance of victory, peaceful life, and the revenge of his friend’ and other warriors’ death. Therefore, carrying this shield means the Achilles’ readiness to conduct everything that he was supposed to.
Therefore, it could be concluded that the description of the two heroes’ shields was different. While Agamemnon’s shield was an arming for the battle which should encourage the warrior and scare his enemies, the Achilles’ shield symbolized the crush of peaceful life and war. It could be supposed that the fact that Achilles carried this shield means that it was his role to fight for the victory and quite life.
Work cited
Homer. The Iliad. Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics, 1998.