Power And Control In Homer's Iliad

As previously stated in “Power and Control,” humanity is defined by our never-ending quest for power and control over plants, animals, and environments as well as other human beings and the human form. Our ability to force others to do what we want or not allow them to do what we do not want drives us. Thus, on the opposite side of the coin, inhumanity must be defined by vulnerability, signifying powerlessness or lack of control. While not a stereotypically monstrous quality, vulnerability is something that we as human beings strive to distance ourselves from at all costs. The more power we have, the less vulnerable we are. However, one cannot have control of everything all the time. Anyone who says otherwise either has a hand in your pocket

Achilles is only able to regain control of himself after realizing the man whose son killed his beloved Patroklos suffered the same as he and seeking solace with him. Moved by Priam’s supplication, Achilles tells him, “… You and I will even let our sorrows lie still in the heart for all our grieving. There is not any advantage to be won from grim lamentation. Such is the way the gods spun life for unfortunate mortals, that we live in unhappiness, but the gods themselves have no sorrows.” (454) Apollo was the only one acting humanly while Achilles abused the broken body of poor Hektor. However, he has never known the crush grief that comes after the death of a loved one, so how could he possibly understand Achilles’

Nowadays, employment prospects are such that a hard worker can work three jobs, seven days a week, at minimum wage and not have enough to pay rent. Perhaps instead of dumping funding into military spending, to maintain our unnecessary nuclear arsenal or build a wall separating America from Mexico, the government should allocate more money to soup kitchens and homeless shelters. If humanity is defined by power, we should use that power for good. We need to help those we deem inhuman, who are truly just vulnerable or have no control of where they are in