Menelaus Vs Bible

The Bible and The Iliad by Homer and are two distinct pieces of literature written centuries apart, yet they share parallels in how a female character in each is expressed on the surface, and upon delving deeper, some difference also become apparent between two female characters. In The Iliad, Helen, wife to King Menelaus, is similar to Sarah, wife to Abraham, in The Bible. Both women are dangerously beautiful, regret their actions that lead them to where they are, and are perceived as conniving. They possess the power to alter events in the narrative despite not being a major character and in otherwise traditionally docile roles as a mother or wife. Where these two characters differ, however, is in whether they choose to change circumstances

Sarah was not only wife to Abraham, but later mother to Isaac, whom God had promised would be the leader of a new nation (Gen. 17:16). This was despite the fact that Sarah already had a son through Hagar, her handmaiden, and was too old to have children (Gen. 16:1-7). However, God fulfilled his promise and Sarah gave birth to Isaac. This is when Sarah’s second role as a protective mother begins. She realizes that Hagar’s son Ishmael is a threat to her own biological son and takes it upon herself to drive Hagar and Ishmael away. In successfully doing so, Sarah is taking control of the narrative by ensuring that Abraham is subservient to her; when she tells him to cast out Hagar and Ishmael, despite him initially not being in agreement, he does it anyway (Gen. 21:10-14). Additionally, by claiming what she perceives as rightfully hers through the promise God made to her, Sarah shows that she is willing to do whatever it takes to put herself and her son first. This is somewhat in contrast to the actions of Helen. Her primary role was as a wife to King Menelaus of Sparta; however, Helen leaves him and Sparta to be with Paris in Troy. Helen is conflicted throughout Book 3 of the Iliad as to what her role is. She explicitly says to her father-in-law Priam prior to the duel between Menelaus and Paris that “death should have been a sweeter evil to me

Sarah, earlier on in The Bible was described as being dangerously beautiful, in fact Abraham explicitly says to her, “I know well that you are a woman beautiful in appearance” (Gen. 12:11). Abraham had to claim that Sarah was his sister, otherwise when they arrive in Egypt, the Egyptians would kill Abraham and spare Sarah if it was known that they were married. By claiming that they were siblings, Abraham lives and Sarah is taken to the Pharaoh’s house (Gen. 12:13-17). God, furious with the Pharaoh for pursuing Sarah, afflicts him and his house with great plagues. This is more so an example of how she indirectly affected the narrative, since Sarah did not take any direct actions herself to change the course of the story. Her beauty brought about trouble for the Pharaoh, without her having to take action. This aspect is more similar to Helen of Troy because her appearance as well caused conflict and Godly intervention, however in this instance Helen was more proactive than Sarah in influencing the narrative since her physical appearance contributed to her decision to run away with Paris. Had she not been considered the most beautiful woman in the land, she would not have been so desirable; regardless of whether or not she could control her beauty, she was well aware of it and chose to elope