A Comparison of Iliad and Odyssey
Although both works are credited
to Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey provide two remarkably different views
on the nature of the Olympian Gods, their relationship to humanity, and the
general lot of mortals throughout their all too brief lives. As a result of these
differences, both stories end up sending contrasting messages about life in
general. In the Iliad, the supernatural denizens of Olympus are depicted as
treacherous, power-hungry, and above all temperamental beings that are
always at each other's throats. Factionalism abounds, and neither the bonds
of marriage, nor the ties of kinship can contain keep it under control. A perfect
example is when Ares betrays his mother, Hera, and his sister, Athene, by
aiding the Trojans instead of the Greeks. When he is discovered, Athena
strikes him down in battle through Diomedes. In the Odyssey, however, the
Gods of Olympus display far more unity and civility toward each other. They
argue and disagree, but their disagreements are never carried out to the
extremes found in the Iliad. When Poseidon punishes Odysseys for blinding
the Cyclopes, Athena does not take revenge. Even though Odyssey's is her
favorite mortal, she respects Poseidon's right to punish him. Also, the
treachery among the Gods that is so prevalent in the Iliad, is nowhere to be
found in the Odyssey.
In Iliad, Hera, enters into a conspiracy with Poseidon, Aphrodite, and Morpheus to aid the Greeks by putting Zeus to sleepÉ thus
rendering him unable to help his beloved Trojans. Nothing like this incident
can be found in the Odyssey. References to past disagreements and
arguments between the Gods (such as in the Poet's tale of Ares and
Aphrodite) are scattered throughout the book, however, so the views between
the Iliad and the Odyssey are not exactly diametrically opposed. The role of
the Gods in the affairs of humanity is much greater in the Iliad then in the
Odyssey. In the Iliad, the Olympians are constantly meddling in the conflict
between the Greeks and the Trojans. At best, they view mortals as amusing
petsÉ to be cared for, played with, and loved. At worst, humans are just
pawns to be shuffled around, sacrificed, and set against each other in order to
resolve inter-Olympian ego-clashes. When Zeus wants the Trojans to win, he'll
turn nature against the Greeks, slay one of their heroes, or send one of their
loyal immortals down to turn the tide of battle. If Hera wants to get back at him,
she will do the same thing against Zeus's people, the Trojans. In the Odyssey,
things are very different. The Gods of Olympus generally will not intervene
unless they are asked toÉ such as when the Cyclopes invokes the wrath of
Poseidon after he is blinded by Odysseys. The Gods do not necessarily view
all humans as mere as supplicant whelps, either. Athena's conversations with
Odysseys are remarkably free of the condescension and authoritarian
posturing that so pervades the discourse between the Gods of the Iliad. They
do not have a greater respect for human life in general (witness the casual
slaying of Odysseys companions, and the Athena backed bloodbath which
occurs when Odysseys returns home)É but they have a greater respect for
the humans they do like. Athena never kills one of Odyssey's loved ones in
order to spur him on, unlike Zeus's slaying of Patroclus to incite Achilles.
As a result of these differing portrayals of the Olympians in both works, the Iliad
and the Odyssesy come off as having very different worldviews. In the Iliad
struggles of man are the result of constant meddling from the Gods, who often
use hapless mortals to obtain revenge on each other for sleights, insults, and
betrayals committed in Olympus. Achilles, Agamemnon, Hector, Patroclus,
PriamÉ and certainly none the poor schleps who fought under them had no
idea the war was being perpetuated by the will of the Gods alone. They never
had any say in the matter. They are but marionettes in a great cosmic "Punch
and Judy" show, and Zeus and company were pulling the strings. In the
Odyssey, however, Homer takes a different view. Odysseus, unlike the
characters in the Iliad, is ultimately the master of his own fate. Athena does
not aid him when he is forced to deal with the Cyclopes, or when he has to
pass through the ordeal of Skylla and Kharybdis. Odysseus is forced to rely
completely on his own devices, mental and physical, for much of the story. He
is not the sacrificial lamb of Zeus, like Patroclus was, or the plaything of
Aphrodite, like Paris was. When Odysseus went into battle, he did not have an
Olympian by his side like Hector or Agamemnon did in the Iliad (wellÉ he did
not until Athena aids him during the massacre of the suitors, anyway).
Ultimately, the Iliad takes the point of view that mortals are nothing more then
the puppets of Zeus's court, while in the Odyssey, humans ultimately control
whether or not they bring death and misfortune to themselves. How the Gods
of Olympus treat you depends on how you treat themÉ Odysseus brought the
wrath of Poseidon on him when he blinded the Cyclopes, who was Poseidon's
son. The fact that Odysseus did not know this until after the fact does not
diminish the clear cause and effect relationship. Odysseus' men bring certain
death onto themselves when they slaughter the beloved sheep of Helios. This
is another example of the clear-cut cause and effect relationship that exists in
the Odyssey. In the Iliad, things are not nearly so simple. Sometimes the Gods
just want to stir up trouble, so they break the truce between the Trojans and
the Greeks. Zeus wants to inspire Achilles to enter the fight, so he kills his
Achilles best friend Patroclus. The point is, mortals are ignorant toys to be set
up and knocked down at the Gods leisure, and for their own clandestine
reasons. That is why life is so terrible and random and short for most people.
Deal with it. In the Odyssey, life is terrible and random, but it does not always
have to be so short. If you are clever enough, strong enough, and diligent
enough, you can conquer just about anything the Gods or other men throw at
you. Well usually anyway.Partner sites: French Bulldog, Spanish school in Quito, and Wedding Speeches