Theme Analysis Essay Research Paper Theme AnalysisIn

Subject Analysis Essay, Research Paper

Subject Analysis

In Homer & # 8217 ; s Iliad, war is depicted as atrocious, bloody, and fruitless. There are no clear

victors in The Iliad. Many people die in vain because of chesty and emotional

determinations made by work forces. Achilles straight causes the decease of his friend by first refusing to

battle, go forthing the Greeks at a disadvantage, and so ill reding his friend Patroclus

to fall in the other combatants. Even the initial cause of the war, Paris & # 8217 ; snatch of Helen, a

Grecian adult female, is a roseola and selfish act.

The will of Zeus plays an of import portion in the events of The Iliad. Zeus & # 8217 ; will is infallible,

and so, in a manner, the events that occur are all destined to go on. However, there is a

little sum of flexibleness as to when the events will go on. This flexibleness comes from

the intercession of the lesser Gods, and the actions of mortal work forces. Apollo can direct a

pestilence on the Greeks, and Aphrodite can deliver Paris from certain decease when he is

contending Menelaeus, but in the concluding result, the Greeks will plunder Troy, and Paris will

dice.

When persons interfere with the will of Zeus, the consequences are much more tragic. Because

they are mortal, their actions have direct influence on their companions, and their lives.

Supreme beings feel commiseration when they can non salvage a favorite person, but that commiseration can non compare to

Achilles & # 8217 ; sorrow at the decease of Patroclus.

Death and combat is non depicted as glorious in The Iliad. Brave warriors receive celebrity,

gold, nutrient, and adult females, and the younger Grecian combatants thrive on this romantic impression.

However, a closer expression at the text shows that Homer describes many deceases in violent,

anatomic item. Most of these Drug Enforcement Administrations

Thursdaies are non of import to the secret plan of the narrative, but they

function the of import intent of demoing the reader that no decease is undistinguished or easy.

These descriptions give The Iliad a & # 8220 ; Salvaging Private Ryan & # 8221 ; type of pragmatism.

The Iliad focuses much on Achilles and his internal battle with his personal will versus

the will of Zeus. However, in the center of the book, he is about wholly absent. This

gives Homer the chance to demo other sides of the struggle, and soiled workss done by

the Greeks and Trojans. In the clip of the Trojan war, there was an unwritten codification of

heroic behavior that the bravest warriors followed. Defeated warriors were non ever

killed. They were sometimes taken captive and returned for ransoms of money or gifts.

However, in the Iliad, Homer shows that lenience seldom survives in war. Diomedes and

Odysseus, two respected Grecian warriors, sneak into a kiping Trojan cantonment and kill many

unarmed, woolgathering Trojans. Paris ignores the behavior of a just battle, and runs off every

opportunity he gets. And Achilles, after losing Patroclus by Hector & # 8217 ; s blade, anguishs Hector

before killing him and handle his organic structure really ill. Profanation of a dead organic structure was

profanation to Greek and Trojan society, and it was a great abuse.

Homer & # 8217 ; s last remarks on the futility of war come at the terminal of the Iliad, and in a

peaceable mode. Homer shows a small salvation for the atrocious effects of war when

Priam begs Achilles for Hector & # 8217 ; s organic structure. Achilles and Priam portion a minute of realisation

of what has been lost to the long Trojan war. The concluding scene is a quiet, plaintive funeral,

in which the Trojans bury Hector, who was a good adult male destroyed by the horror of war

and the will of Zeus.