Iliad Archetype

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Throughout history, humanity has always been fascinated with the idea of a hero. Examples include wild west rangers capturing bandits, superheroes defeating villains, and parents saving their children from nightmares. Today, common people who accomplish a great feat are often elevated to the status of a hero. They are worshiped and praised beyond the point most mortal human being experience. The Iliad is the archetype for this theme. It tells stories of Achilles, the Greek hero from the 7-8th century BCE and his heroism in the Trojan War. These stories caught particular interest from the Greek society and have dramatically influenced cultures and societies in art, music, and literature for thousands of years. The Iliad is the stigma for the …show more content…

It is more than a scholastically studied work; it expresses the individual as a hero; something that is still examined and edifies humanity today. In the Iliad, readers glean the most transcultural ideologies from the character Achilles. Prophecies say that Troy will fall, but it isn’t until Achilles, the strongest of the Achaeans reenters the war and engages in combat that this begins to take shape. Without his return, the Greeks would have continued to struggle in the war against Troy. His first heroic battle is with Hector, the strongest of the Trojans. The bravery Achilles displays for fighting such a mighty warrior is admirable and is the keystone in developing the theme of the individual as a hero both in the book and in …show more content…

He is not an inanimate character lacking human emotions. He mirrors human qualities that never fade no matter the age of civilization. The Greek values along with mental and physical strength, pride, the quest for legacy, and the struggle to achieve greatness are all values that the human race still embodies today. Like Achilles, other individuals are fighting for values they hold close to them. Just as Achilles fought to defeat the Trojan army, individuals today struggle to achieve their goals and do something bigger than themselves. A person that achieves these goals leaving a legacy, transforms into a

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