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Fate In The Iliad Research Paper

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Though most people would like to think that they can control their destiny, one’s fate is something that cannot be altered. No amount of anything can factor into contributing to one’s providence. Fate is something that is inevitably predetermined and should be accepted by everyone as it is out of their hands. Though it is not as meaningful in today’s world, the idea of fate was immensely important to the ancient culture of Greece. In the Iliad, fate plays an extensive role in the plot of the story as it is conspicuous in the actions of Hektor and Achilles. Being the brother of Paris and Troy’s strongest warrior, Hektor is dragged into the war to defend Troy’s citizens from the incoming onslaught of the Greeks. Towards the end of the war …show more content…

Throughout the Iliad, Achilles is constantly concerned with his glory and how he will be remembered by his fellow Greeks. He even goes as far as to temporarily leave the Greek army, when his glory and honor is threatened by a fellow Greek. At first, Achilles, having a powerful and vigorous personality, believes that he is in charge of his own fate. When the dying Hektor warned Achilles of his oncoming death, Achilles responded by saying, “Die: and I will take my death at whatever time” (Homer, Book XXII, 268). His arrogance blinds him from recognizing that his fate uncontrollable. However, it is when the war draws to a close and Achilles experiences the death of his comrades, that he realizes his true meaning in all of fighting. This comes as he is faced with a crossroad in his life: He can either return to Troy, but live a long life without glory, or he can continue fighting at Troy and win great glory, as he dies on the battlefield. Achilles understands that it was his fate to earn his honor and die during the war. Though not presented in the story of the Iliad, legends tell that it was Paris who killed Achilles with a bow and arrow, ending the hero’s

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After his death, Achilles contradicts the ideal of dying honorably and obtaining kleos. Achilles states that he would rather “slave on earth for another man--/some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive --/ than rule down here over all the breathless dead” (11.555-558). Achilles believes that life is more precious than immortal glory. Achilles contradicts the supreme value of kleos in the Iliad. Initially, he once believed that glory was more much important than life.

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But if you go to Troy, you will never come back... for your glory walks hand-in-hand with your doom. And I shall never see you again” (Troy). Said by Thetis, Achilles mother. Even though Achilles was warned by his mother that is he went to Troy he will be remembered, but he will die, he still held his own. There was no price too high to pay for fame,

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Shrunga Malavalli 11436985 Hon 380 Ancient Greek Myth speaks of three goddesses, Klotho - “The Spinner” who spins the thread of mortal life, Lakhesis - “The Apportioner of Lots” who measures the thread and Atropos, who snips the thread once it has come to its due end. These three goddesses , collectively called the Moirae were a personification of the Greek belief of man’s inescapable destiny. Modern schools of thought encompass the idea of Fate under the umbrella of the consequences of an individual’s choices with the added uncertainty of chance. However , in the Ancient Greek mind, Moira or Fate was seen as a predestined immutable external entity that people and even gods were beholden to that fundamentally shaped their existence. Throughout classic works we see the discussions about fate and the ultimate futility of human existence - Our own mortality.

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The “racial mountain” of which Langston Hughes writes about is the pressure put on Black artists and artist of color to remove their race from their work, and to be simple American. In addition, the racial mountain is the burden placed on the artist by those of their own race to portray the race in a respectable way. This this “racial mountain” that deeply influenced the artist of Hughes’ time still affects black artists and artist of color today. One way in which one can see that is through the aftermath of Beyoncé’s “Lemonade.” People accused Beyoncé of being racist, were upset at her inclusion of Malcolm X

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One of the major consequences of war is the horrific tragedies that occur. In the Iliad, in book eighteen, when Achilles hears that Hector killed Patroclus he is filled with rage and enters the war seeking vengeance. His rage causes him to kill hundreds of trojans and seek

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In the Iliad, Achilles is responding to Odysseus’s speech attempting to convince him to return to the war. Achilles’ main argument against returning is his incalculable rage against Agamemnon for “the prize of honor / The warlord Agamemnon gave me / And in his insulting arrogance took back” which is not only an insult to Achilles’ status, but also to his honor as a warrior (Il. 9.378-379). In addition to focusing on the main argument of Achilles’ speech, it is worth noting the contradictions present within his speech as well.

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When Patraclous is killed Achilles returns to the battle after he said we will not be fighting for the Achaeans because of the insult that it was made to his honor. He decided to go back and kill Hector for killing his best friend and most loved person, and to get the body which illustrate the idea of the glory after life. The idea of family honor adds a new level of understanding how important is pride is in ancient Greek literature. Another Example of this can be shown when Achilles kills hector, The reaction of Priam Hector’s father. Priam says “I have gone through what no other mortal on earth has gone through; I put my lips to the hands of the man who has killed my children (Homer, Iliad 24.505)”

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In Homer’s The Iliad, epic hero Achilles serves as an example of how rage, when unchecked, leads to disastrous repercussions. Achilles, though nearly superhuman in his physical abilities, struggles repeatedly to contain his anger. Throughout The Iliad, as Achilles’ fury compounds, the consequences of his actions become catastrophic, eventually leading to the death of his best friend, Patroclus. Although Achilles ultimately chooses to avenge Patroclus’ death and achieve his own kleos, or honor, his rage-driven actions lead to the death of many Achaean soldiers, and change the course of his fate.

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If I stay here and fight before the city of Troy, there will be no home- coming for me but my fame shall never die; if I go home to my native land, there will be no great fame for me, but I shall live long and not die an early death.” (Homer 110) This shows that he is selfishness and fearful at the same time of losing and dying in the war. In the very beginning of the Iliad, King Agamemnon and Achilles have an argument for a couple of different reasons. After, the Achians won a battle against a city that was allied with the Trojans each of them received a prize consisted of a young woman from the war.

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As a result, Achilles fills with such a grief and rage that he rejoin battle. After slaying many Trojans and fighting God of river Xanthus, Achilles slays Hector. Then he lashes his body to back of his chariot and drags it across the battlefield to Achaean camp. That was the second revenge action, which happens in the Iliad. Additionally, in the last day of the battle, Paris, the prince of Troy shot an arrow in Achilles’ heel and killed him.

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Achilles death occurs differently in Homer 's Iliad and the film, Troy. In Homer 's Iliad and the film, Troy, the cause of the Trojan War has different origins. In Hamilton 's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes Homer states that Achilles death occurs when, "He had driven the Trojans before him up to the wall of Troy. There Paris shot an arrow at him and Apollo guided it so that it struck his foot in the one spot where he could be wounded, his heel" (278). Paris, with the help of Apollo, manages to kill Achilles when he shoots him in his heel.

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Now I must go to look for the destroyer of my great friend. I shall confront the dark dear spirit of death at any hour Zeus and the other gods may wish to make an end (Q 65-68). Here, Achilles shows fearlessness and audacity in his acceptance of death. However, he accepted his fate, to avenge the killer of his friend Patroclus.

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Achilles is maddened and appeals to his goddess mother saying, “If I am to die soon, shouldn’t I have what I want?” Feeling only sorrow for her son, Thetis requests Zeus to cause to Greeks to lose until Achilles fights again. Slowly the Greeks are pushed back farther and Agamemnon pleads with Achilles, offering Briseis back. Achilles declines due to his pride and the Trojans come close to burn the Greek ships. Even when a ship was burning, Achilles refused to fight and instead sends out Patroclus.

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In grief Achilles wants to fight Hector for what he did. Hector has two choices, either to fight Achilles or hide behind the walls of Troy. Hector exclainms doubtedly “What shall I do? If I retreat behind these walls, … And now that I have ruined them all by my rashness, I am ashamed to face the men and women of Troy, or some base fellows may say-Hector thought too much of his own strength, and ruined us all!”

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Iliad is recognized as one of the most famous ancient monuments of literature. The full understanding of this epic poem is hardly possible without thorough analysis of its main characters. Among all the episodes of the Trojan War, Homer chooses the moment of Achilles’ wrath and thus creates a poem in which he becomes the central figure. From the Ancient Greeks’ point of view, Achilles represents the ideal of manliness and pure heroism, for he is brave and fights for heroics, not profits. Today, one can agree with this interpretation, yet Achilles is probably the most controversial character because he combines various personality traits and acts in accordance with his ambiguous nature.

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