The first existential theme in The Iliad is Akhilleus’ conflict between options. In book nine of The Iliad, Akhilleus confronts options that will ultimately decide his future. He states:
My mother, Thetis of the silver feet, tells me of two possible destinies carrying me towards death: two ways: if on the one hand I remain to fight around Troy town. I lose all hope of home but gain unfading glory; on the other, if I sail back to my own land my glory fails-but a long life lies ahead for me. (Homer 210)
Akhilleus is facing these two options and needs to decide (A) if he will fight to gain remembrance throughout history as a war hero or (B) does he vacate Troy and live an uneventful but long life. Option (A) would give him everlasting glory that he ultimately craves. He craves glory
…show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how akhilleus confronts options that will ultimately decide his future in book nine of the iliad.
- Analyzes the importance of sartre's claim in the analysis of the creation of an inanimate object.
- Analyzes how sartre's slogan "existence precedes essence" introduces what is most distinctive of existentialism, namely, the idea that no general, non-formal account of what it means to be human can be given.
- Analyzes how dr. crowell demonstrates that essence is acquired through living and existing in itself. akhilleus must exist and live to have existential options.
Akhilleus’ mother is a sea nymph, which makes her a goddess of water. His ancestry bundled with an innate craving to be comparable to the gods, influences Akhilleus to strive for immortality. Demigods are mortal unlike gods, thus, Akhilleus strives for immortality through the want of remembrance as a great hero throughout history. In contrast, option (B) does not offer him the glory of a historical hero. In the eyes of Akhilleus, vacating Troy is equivalent to the fainthearted. He ultimately chooses option (A) and fights a successful battle against the Trojans. His choice to fight reflects the Greek concept termed Arête, which stands for excellence and moral virtue. In a similar fashion, a twentieth century existential philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre composed an essay named “Existentialism is a Humanism.” Sartre demonstrates in his essay that individuals have options between choices in regards to their essence or purpose. He argues that individuals come into existence first and then decide what their essence is. Sartre states, “What do we mean by saying that existence precedes essence? We mean that man first of all exists, encounters himself,
Related
- analytical
- Homers Iliadanalytical essayGeneral Plot Summary of Homer's Iliad The Iliad is a lengthy poem of some 15,693 lines, divided into 24 books (cantos) and has as its theme the anger (menis) of the Greek hero Achilles, the greatest of the heroes to sail to Troy. In the tenth year of the war, Achilles quarrels with the leader of the expedition, Agamemnon, over a slight to Achilles' honor. In his anger, Achilles withdraws from the fighting and wins the aid of Zeus, the king of the gods, to see to it that the war turns against the Greeks. Eventually (Book 9) things begin to go so badly that Agamemnon sends a delegation to Achilles to offer him compensation and ask him to rejoin the fighting.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how homer's iliad is a lengthy poem of some 15,693 lines, divided into 24 books (cantos) and has as its theme the anger of the greek hero achilles.
- Analyzes how achilles' anger at agamemnon and the greeks is forgotten in his grief at the death of his friend and his desire to take revenge on hector.
- Analyzes how the poem concludes with the elderly trojan king priam coming in person to achilles' tent and begging for the return of his son's body for due burial.
733 wordsRead More - Immense Heroism in Homer’s Iliadanalytical essayThe Iliad opens with "the anger of Peleus' son, Achilleus," (1.1) and closes with the "burial of Hektor, breaker of horses" (24.804).1 The bracketing of the poem with descriptions of these two men suggests both their importance and their connection to one another. They lead parallel lives as the top fighters in their respective armies, and, as the poem progresses, their lives and deaths become more and more closely linked. They each struggle to fulfill the heroic ideal, and they both grapple with temptations that lure them away from heroism. While Hektor embodies the human heroic ideal, Achilleus strives to surpass human heroism to achieve some identification with the divine. These delusions of grandeur diminish Achilleus greatly; despite his efforts he can never be immortal, and a mortal god, besides being an oxymoron, would be decidedly pitiful. Achilleus' heroism, therefore, is incumbent on his acceptance of his humanity. Achilleus entangles Hektor in his struggle to come to terms with his own mortality by recognizing himself in his enemy. Hektor comes to represent the humanity of Achilleus, against which Achilleus rebels and which he tries to destroy in his desire to be immortal. Their fates are therefore linked, and the death of the one necessitates the death of the other. In finally giving over Hektor's body to Priam, Achilleus is at his most heroic; for in this action he accepts his fate, his mortality, and his humanity.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the importance of the two men in homer's iliad. they struggle to fulfill the heroic ideal, while achilleus strives to surpass human heroism to achieve some identification with the divine.
- Analyzes how hektor and achilleus are lured away from heroism by their connections to home and family, and their desire to face death and strive for glory.
- Analyzes how achilleus strays from the way of the hero by denying his mortality and fancying himself a god.
- Analyzes how achilleus tries to deny his mortality in his rampage against the trojans. he arms himself in new armour specially made for him by hephiastos (the greek god of the forge).
- Analyzes how achilleus' rampage is inhuman and unheroic. he kills so many people that he clogs up the movement of the river skamandros.
- Analyzes how achilleus' initial, "mortal" armour changes hands from his father, peleus, to patroklos to hektor, so shifts the representation of his humanity.
- Analyzes how hektor kills patroklos, strips him of his armour, and dons it himself, portraying achilleus' humanity.
- Analyzes how achilleus' fury at hektor is a misplaced rage against his own mortality.
- Analyzes how achilleus recognizes his humanity in the surrender of hektor's body because it is a symbol of his rebellion against his own mortality.
- Analyzes how hektor's funeral can be seen as a representation of achilleus' funeral, for the fates of these two heroes are linked.
1673 wordsRead More - the liacanalytical essayShmoop Editorial Team. "The Iliad Theme of Fate and Free Will." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 07 Apr. 2014. .
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the gods and heroes played a huge role by influencing major ideas such as fate and free will in the illiad.
- Analyzes how the illiad questions man's fate by not identifying who or what is ultimately responsible for his destiny.
- Analyzes how the gods produced situations over trivial things, such as a plague, and insulted chrysses. man has its own inclination to behave foolishly.
- Analyzes how free will has been displayed throughout the illiad. achilleus had two destinies in which he could have chosen from.
- Opines that it is important to recognize a difference between the gods and how their control over fate functions.
- Analyzes the interaction between fate and free will in homer's illiad. free will can be used to alter fate, but it will eventually not have any effect on it.
- Analyzes how the illiad portrays the interaction between fate and free will to most of the events within the poem.
- Concludes that the interaction between fate and free will was unquestionable and made the illiad the distinctive and vivacious narrative.
- Cites wikipedia's "iliad" and the shmoop editorial team. the theme of fate and free will.
849 wordsRead More - The Appeal of Homeanalytical essayIn the Greek camp at the end of the Iliad, we see Achilleus arrive at the conclusion that is the theme of the entire poem—that to be mortal is to suffer. However, Homer leaves unanswered the logical question regarding this conclusion: If to live is to suffer, then why live at all? This then becomes the central question of the Odyssey, in which we are given an entirely different kind of character who rejects two distinct possibilities—an immortal relationship and a utopian community—for his own “wife and his homecoming” (I, 13). The question we are then compelled to ask is, what could Penelope and his Ithakan household possibly offer that is worth more than utopia and immortality? To illustrate what Odysseus could’ve had, Homer shows us a contrast for each aspect of Odysseus’s longing—a couple and a community. Through these contrasts, we are shown just why these options don’t measure up for Odysseus.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how homer shows us a contrast for each aspect of odysseus’s longing—a couple and community.
- Analyzes how the immortal couple is embodied in the marriage of helen and menelaos.
- Analyzes how homer illustrates the meaning of community by contrast, this time through the community on skheria. the phaiakians appear to be everything odysseus could wish for in a community.
- Analyzes how odysseus' actions in ithaka illustrate his understanding of the temptation of immortality and life in a utopia.
- Analyzes how odysseus understands that suffering creates empathy in humans, and this is the only means through which they can connect with each other to establish romantic relationships and friendships.
1077 wordsRead More - What Is Achilles Wronganalytical essayIn Homer's epic, The Iliad, Achilles is the central character and greatest warrior in the Trojan War. He is faced with several problems, but the main fight was between him and Agamemnon, the commander of the Achaean army. Greek soldiers fight to win kleos, which is the greek word for glory. When Agamemnon takes Achilles’ kleos, Achilles is forced to question his role in the war. He struggles with the shallow reason that the Achaean army is fighting and eventually goes against the authority he is under in order to fight for his own reasons. Achilles made the only choice possible after being left with a broken heart, cheated and betrayed.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how achilles is the central character and greatest warrior in homer's epic, the iliad. he is faced with several problems, but the main fight was between him and agamemnon.
- Narrates how agamemnon had captured chryseis as his slave and lover. apollo became upset with him and started a plague amongst the greeks. a prophet named calchas found the source of the troubles and with the protection of achilles, decreed.
- Analyzes how achilles was cheated by agamemnon by using his ability as a great warrior for his personal gain. he deserved credit for fighting for the entire achaean army.
- Analyzes how achilles was betrayed by agamemnon, who took briseis as collateral, stabbing him in the back. he was enraged, but felt like he was fighting for nothing.
- Concludes that achilles was stubborn but had every right to be. he was backstabbed by his king, cheated from his rights, and left alone and without love.
579 wordsRead More - Iliadanalytical essayWhat role did the women play in The Iliad ? Most of the women that are featured in this book are very strong and courageous. Though the spotlight may not always be featured on them, they take up a good portion of the book and somewhat centered around them. Most events that occur are because of them which result in some people dying. Take Helen for example, she is kidnapped, raped by Paris, and put into hardship; after all the whole war is caused by her. Having the reputation of being the most beautiful women in the world and having such a nice husband, Menalaus, how could such a thing happen to her?
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the women in the iliad are strong and courageous. they take up a good portion of the book and somewhat centered around them. helen is kidnapped, raped, and put into hardship.
- Analyzes helen's feelings towards hector after leaving her hometown and being taken to troy by paris. she blames some of these series of events on aphrodite, a beautiful goddess who is known for being the goddess of love and relationships.
- Analyzes how helen does not know ahphrodite is the official cause of all this causation. paris fulfilled his prophesy of being the downfall of troy.
- Narrates how mount ida prophesied that he would be the downfall of troy when a golden apple was thrown at the wedding among the goddesses hera, athena and aphrodite.
- Narrates how he picks aphrodite's body and beautiful women and goes back to troy with the help of her. they plan to break in to menalaus' home and kidnap helen.
- Analyzes how helen's suitors promised to come after them if someone tried to kidnap her, which led to the trojan war. both cities lose valuable people, including hector (achaean) and achilles (trojan).
- Analyzes how aphrodite is a big part of the decisions paris makes. a typical mother would lead her right to make the right decisions and help him get out of his childish ways.
- Analyzes how aphrodite leads him on to kidnap her, knowing knowledge of her marriage, but still helps him proceed on. she is still helping him, telling him what and what not to do.
- Analyzes how menalaus and paris attempt a fight to end this terrible, bloodshed war, but aphrodite casts him away before he can finish the fight. paris' second attempt to fight is with diomedes.
- Opines that aphrodite is the mastermind and manipulator behind the scenes of these events. while helen and others are being praised or living large lives, there are still women who are beneath them and don't get as much freedom.
- Analyzes how agamemnon is forced to give chryseis back to end the war by taking briseis from achilles.
- Analyzes how this story shows a bit of life lessons that most of these characters haven't quite realized in both the beginning and end.
- Explains that the women in the iliad hold onto their powerful meanings and have their own way of doing things.
- Analyzes how the women stood out for both good and bad purposes and some things could have been better or completely avoided.
1017 wordsRead More - The Iliad of Homeranalytical essayThe Iliad of Homer Honor is something men and women have fought for century after century. Even now, thousands of American and British men are fighting in Iraq, near to where the Trojan War was to have taken place. These men fight for the greater good. They fight for those in Iraq who are unable to fight for or otherwise defend themselves. They fight for honor.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the iliad of homerhonor is something men and women have fought for century after century. the characters in the story are motivated by their own form of honor, or arete.
- Defines the homeric code as 'unwritten rules' that guide the conduct of homeric heroes. honor is more important than life itself. courage, physical abilities, and social status are also important contributions.
- Analyzes how hector is a main character in the iliad on the side of the trojans. he shows great perseverance and has stern conviction for the code of honor.
- Analyzes how hector's strict belief in the code of honor is seen in book six, when he returns to troy to have women sacrificing to athena to help the trojans.
- Analyzes how paris and hector are different from each other. paris is self-centered and disengaged from the war.
- Analyzes nestor's power to influence the warriors to stick to the heroic code of honor. the heroic code also comes into play when he suggests the greeks back away from fighting to bury their dead.
- Analyzes how diomede follows the heroic code, finding glory and nobility on a battlefield and doing so modestly while caring for his people.
1004 wordsRead More - The Iliad of Homeranalytical essayThe Iliad Outline &explain the qualities of a “Homeric Hero”. Who best fits the bill? Why? The Homeric hero strives to be the best among his peers. His goal is to achieve the greatest glory in order to earn the highest honor from his peers, his commander, and finally from his warrior society.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the homeric hero judges his own arete by what his warrior society thinks of him.
- Opines that achilles' death is in the hands of him. this shows that he is the greater.
- Describes the functions of the gods in the iliad.
- Opines that one could not change a mortal’s life or death situation. if one was going to die, they could.
- Explains that the gods are influenced by the request of the gods.
- Explains the qualities of an epic poem and cite examples from the iliad to prove it to be such a poem.
- Opines that the man responsible for the raising of the war cry around troy would be angry with any coward caught shrinking away from this hateful war.
- Explains that the poem often started from the middle and moved in many directions to make the story.
- Explains that the homeric hero strives to be the best among his peers and earn the highest honor from his commander.
- Analyzes how he feels that society's attitude towards him is more important than his own attitude. he chooses to act in a way that will make him acquire public approval.
- Opines that the greatest insult to a homeric hero is to withhold the honor that he has earned. he is completely shattered when honor is denied.
- Explains that the prize of honor in the iliad is the most attractive, intelligent, and skilled female captive. the most absolute honor is everlasting fame.
- Analyzes how achilles is upset that he did not receive a great prize as agamemnon did.
- Explains that advice supplied thoughts and ideas, strength and skill, courage and determination, and caused weapons to hit or miss their marks. the homeric gods certainly had favorites among the mortals and made an effort to help them.
- Narrates how the sea goddess thetis did not want to accept that her son achilles was going to die someday because he was half-mortal.
- Explains that achilles could be killed if he was wounded on the back of one heel due to thetis doing this.
- Explains that poems were usually designed in the form of a tree. the principle plot formed the trunk of the tree, with many stories branching off from it.
- Analyzes how hector is considered a great person to the trojans because he is their hero.
- Describes how hector looked for honor from his countrymen and went to battle knowing that he was going to die. he kept his promise to help them win the war, a sign of arete.
- Analyzes how paris looked for honor within hubris, leading the hero to think that he was greater than his peers and had the limitless power attributed to the gods.
- Analyzes how the hero worshiped the best prizes, respect, and everything. he didn't care much about anything.
- Explains that achilles wanted to hear the people say that they needed his help, and that is why he stayed out of the war.
1430 wordsRead More - The Iliad of Homeranalytical essayThe competition for power and ultimate victory is continuous throughout the Iliad. Several characters including gods and men, attempt to assume authority and rule in order to fulfill personal endeavors and obtain self-gratification. However, it is often that by themselves, these strong figures cannot carry out the tasks that they wish to accomplish. Instead, they are quick to manipulate and beg in order to have the job completed by someone else. On both the human and immortal level, individuals constantly need the help of others in their struggle for supremacy.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the competition for power and ultimate victory is continuous throughout the iliad. several characters attempt to assume authority and rule in order to fulfill personal endeavors and obtain self-gratification.
- Analyzes how achilleus prolongs the problem by holding on to his anger when pallus athene disallows him from continuing his argument. to prove his point, he asks his mother to go to zeus, and plead for him to help the trojans
- Analyzes how achilleus forgets that as leader, the consequences of his actions affect those who he holds in his charge. in drawing gods into the conflict, it complicates the matter.
- Analyzes how hera is one of the first gods to exhibit her meddling ways and the capacity to turn the tables.
- Explains that when the achaians hold their games in honor of patroklos' death, several of the greatest warriors receive help or unwanted attention from gods watching on.
- Analyzes how odysseus knowingly asks athene to be kind and come with strength for his footsteps. he relies on the aid of a goddess to procure dominance and victory.
754 wordsRead More - Iliadanalytical essayThe Iliad Focus Questions Book I 1. What do the first six lines tell us about Achilles? The first six lines tell us that Achilles might be a military general or some one who can lead Greeks into battle, It states that Achilles is full of rage also that he is murderous, and doomed.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how achilles becomes angry with agamemnon because he and the other argives had earned their treasures, but still gets the biggest share of every thing.
- Opines that nestor's advice to agamemnon is to not seize the girl he threatened to take from achilles.
- Explains that the suitors invaded odysseus' home to marry his wife so that they could rule over his land and have his wealth.
- Analyzes how the first six lines tell us that achilles might be a military general or some one who can lead greeks into battle.
- Explains that zeus doesn't save sarpedon because his wife hera reminds him that he is still a mere mortal.
- Narrates how athena helps achilles by catching up with hector while he is running and persuading him to follow her.
- Analyzes how odysseus is conceded about his own glory and name and loves his homeland above all things. the cyclopes live by themselves not encountering each other and follow no laws.
1704 wordsRead More