Analysis of The Iliad: The Relationship Between Gods And Humans The Individual vs The Group (Essay Sample)

Analysis of “The Iliad”
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Analysis of “The Iliad”
All over the history of human, people have contemplated the question of mortality. In evaluating the subject, the Ancient Greeks believed there are two immortality spheres, which include one attained by mere mortal and the other reserved for Gods. In contrast to Gods who are destined to eternal life and youth, humans are predestined to die. Thus, they must strive to gain the only immortality form available, which is honor. This idea is expound by Homer in “The lliad” and by analyzing the poem, using the glory and honor theme will assist leaders in understanding ancient Greece question of mortality.[Lang, Andrew, Walter Leaf, and Ernest Myers. The Iliad Of Homer (Annotated Edition). Jazzybee Verlag, 2012.]
Throughout the poem, Homer portrays the extent to which honor played a role in the Greeks life, and the manner that they were willing to sacrifice for them to attain their objectives. This subject manifests itself from the outset of the poem as it is set during the Trojan War that was booth bloody and long battle. The conflict of the fight as neither because of political or boundary differences rather was meant to uphold and defend honor of Menelaous whose wife had been taken away by Paris, prince of Trojan.[(Lang, Andrew, Walter and Ernest 2012)]
According to the Greek society axioms, individuals are required to defend their status and prevent shame form being brought upon them at all cost. Although the text clearly admires reciprocal bonds of obligation and differences that bind Homeric families, it values more the pursuit of Kleos ( glory) that an individual wins in the eyes of other people by carrying out great acts. In the poem, the characters are in many instances are made to choose between the individuals they love and the quest for glory but contrary to what is expected the heroic ones invariably selects the latter. This assist the leader to understand that ancient Greeks valued glory and honor more than even love of people closer to them.[Ibid]
In this narration, Andromache pleads with Hector not to risk his life during the war as death would orphan his son. However, the individual never heeds to the advice as the only way to win his fathers great glory is by fighting among the front ranks. Achilles also makes a similar choice when he refuses retuning home to live with his ailing father until he kills Hector. The significance of the decisions made by Hector and Achilles i...