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The Iliad Research Paper

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In the epic poem ‘The Iliad’ the Gods made several appearances and were mentioned countless times throughout. Many would say that the role that the Gods played in the poem was vital to the story line. If not for the Gods, the stories within this poem would have gone a completely different route and, the Iliad would lack purpose. In every story within the poem Gods have meddled and altered the actions of the mortal characters of the story. The several actions of the Gods reflected on to their people. Many, if not all, choices were made for or because of the Gods. Zeus, Apollo, Hera, and countless other Gods interfered with mortal issues throughout the epic poem. These gods changed the course of the story and also serve to create purpose for …show more content…

The gods, in some cases, were paternal figures. In other cases the gods were more “game players” that solely used the mortal characters as pawns for their own benefit. When Apollo stepped in for Chrysies he was a paternal, protectant figure for Chrysies. Apollo saw and heard Chrysies’ prayers and acted negatively towards King Agamemnon. Whereas, Zeus used Paris and Athena used Achilles. Zeus used Paris as a pawn by asking him to make the decision in Zeus’ place. Zeus understood that there may be negative repercussions, so he placed his burden on another. Athena used Achilles to act out her revenge on Paris’ city of troy. She saw her opportunity once she learned of the battle between hector and Achilles and she took it. In the heat of the fight, when Achilles sword was knocked aside, she assisted him which lead to the death of hector. Athena’s involvement of the fight was selfish and was not concerned about the feelings of a mortal. Later on after hector was killed, Aphrodite helped preserve hectors corpse until it was properly buried. Her involvement with the mortal character was more paternal. This act came from the kindness of Aphrodite’s heart. The intentions of each individual god is important to the overall poem because it gives the plot purpose and understanding behind the events

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In her critical essay, ‘The Iliad, or, The Poem of Force,’ Simone Weil submits Homer’s epic poem to her concept of force. Through her analysis of the epic, she demonstrates what it is to pay attention to an object — and by extension, another being. That is to say, the way in which Weil analyses the Iliad demonstrates what it is in her terms to love through attention in the face of force. ‘The Poem of Force,’ then, is not merely a passive analysis, nor is it a simple illustration of an example. Weil’s essay does indeed lay out a definition of force, and by bringing to light examples in the Iliad where force is demonstrated, she is subjecting the poem to force as she analyses both it and defines force itself.

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The Gods play vital role in the development of the story as they seek to influence the behavior of the human world. The Gods incentivize human behavior by offering them exchanges in order to create a narrative behind their strength. An example of this is seen as Agamemnon murders his daughter Iphigenia in exchange for better winds His murder exemplifies how the Gods seek to manipulate behavior since the seek to test human’s persistence. Agamemnon’s decision to appease the Gods for favorable wind is shown as Calchas states “ 'My captains, Artemis must have blood!... the glory of my house -a father's hands are stained, blood of a young girl streaks the altar.

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Greeks developed epic poetry, which is a long story to tell about heroic deeds and events which would be significant to a culture. The most famous Greek epic poetry is the Iliad and Odyssey, by Homer. According to the Iliad Book 1, it states, “Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles, murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses, hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls, great fighters’ souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for the dogs and birds, and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end. Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed, Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles.” In this poem, the author uses a writing style in which starts off the story in a middle of an event.

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Homer underlines that this behavior is foul, for Achilles allows his soldiers to wound the body and then bounds Hector’s feet to his chariot in order to harm the body. Although Hector asked him to give his body to his family, Achilles ignores the last will of the dying Trojan hero because he is still obsessed with his revenge. One should remember that the Greeks believed it was the issue of primary importance to bury a person’s body in a decent way so that their spirit would find the sanctuary. In other words, Achilles takes revenge in the most horrible way

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