The Importance Of Honor In The Iliad Of Homer

During every humans life we tend to make mistakes. We tend to think something is good one day then look back on it in a few years and realize it was not such a great idea. Through these mistakes we grow as people and we learn from them. In The Iliad of Homer Achilles goes through a lot of trials and tribulations, and doesn’t always make the best choices. Sadly Achilles does not learn from these mistakes until it is far too late. One of Achilles first great lessons learned was that one should be less intense when it comes to one’s values. During the first couple books of The Iliad of Homer we see that honor is the most important thing to Achilles. Honor comes before all. Unfortunately, in book nineteen, Achilles beloved comrade and brother-in-arms

Although, honor is most important to Achilles we are shown that pride is a fault in his life as well. Achilles holds out and does not enter to the battle with Agagmemnon, this decision leads to many lives lost and almost the loss of the Greeks. From this you can learn that how you are viewed toward someone else is not what is important. What’s important is how you see yourself, especially, in Achilles situation, when lives are at stake. The last mini-lesson Achilles may have learned from his journey is a sum of the two lessons above. One’s rage can have a huge impact on friends and loved ones. Selfish talents that do not contribute to the community are irresponsible and Achilles rage has devastating consequences, as he lets this harm the one’s he cherishes the most. From pulling out of the war because Agagmemnon humiliates him by stealing Briseis, and by getting back into the war because Hector kills Patroklos. Achilles let’s his emotions overrule him and shall learn to not think such way. The Iliad of Homer is known for having quite a lot of moral lessons and throughout the book we see Achilles fall and get back up again. Through Achilles mistakes he comes out a stronger warrior, even though he faces some big losses. A lesson can always be learned out of devastation or failure and we learn this while