An Epic Love Triangle For years, Greek literature has transitioned from ancient scrolls, to school textbooks, and oftentimes to the big screen. Stories about Oedipus, Hercules, and the Titans have been told throughout the years captivating generation after generation. These classics never go out of style. Greek mythological characters make for perfect movie stars; however, Hollywood doesn’t always stick to the script when portraying these legendary figures or their glorified stories. The tale of the Trojan War, is one of the most profound works of art, written by Homer, in his poem the Iliad. In 2004 this monumental story was transformed into a feature film under the direction of Wolfgang Petersen. Troy, the movie, is a very inaccurate depiction of the Homeric epic, The Iliad; especially, when it comes to the romantic relationship involving Helen, Pairs and Menelaus. Sure, the characters and the outcome of the war are the same, but the way in which the story is told happens to be dramatically different. The plot of the movie differentiates so much from the original poem that the film is ultimately a lackluster version of the Iliad. The movie makes so many changes to the twisted tale of love between …show more content…
In the poem the Iliad, Aphrodite helps Paris kidnap Helen by offering Helen’s hand to Paris, during his judgment. Although the Judgment of Paris happens prior to the Iliad, there is no mention of Aphrodite in the movie, Troy at all. Excluding the Goddess of Love from the movie, takes away the intensity of the love connection between Paris and Helen. Stephen Scully (in Winkler, p. 120) cites “the absence of divine machinery is one of the reasons (together with the film’s mundane dialogue) why Troy fails to achieve epic greatness.” This union was created by a Goddess, making it supernatural, they loved each other so much, that the young lovers started a
Films have always been used to bring out various cultural artifacts and traditions. Through film, it would be easier for one to point out the culture in which one or the main character belongs to. The Iliad and Troy remains to be amongst the most renowned literal and film pieces that have been read, viewed and appreciated throughout history. Just as is the film Troy, which is based on the epic, The Iliad, Gladiator is a 2000 British–American epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott. The Gladiator features the character of Crowe, a fictional character, who is very loyal to Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius. Crowe is betrayed when Commodus, a very ambitious son to the then the emperor Marcus Aurelius takes over power after killing his father.
The heroic ideals are found to be the main concept the authors wanted to show in both
The Iliad by the infamous poet Homer is a good example of how the Greek’s have helped mould todays version of cinematic storytelling and heroic figures going on an adventure. Written circa 8th century BC it is based in the Bronze age around 1200 BC nine years after the start of the Trojan war. The eighth century BC was a time where Greece started to prosper once more and writers such as Homer transformed the oral tales and myths into poetry which created standard versions of these stories. Homer was arguably the most important of these poets as the Iliad and the sequel the Odyssey, properly established a world of the Olympian Gods and the Trojan war(1) which reinforced the beliefs of the Greeks that the Gods often were often involved with mortal life and in some cases walked the earth like man did.***********************
The Iliad by Homer, was set nine years into the Trojan War. The war started because Paris, prince of Troy, took Helen from Menelaus. As a result of this, the Greeks and Trojans ended their long peace. Helen’s husband, Menelaus and his brother Agamemnon declared war on Troy determined to bring Helen back. The Greeks settle on the Trojan beach which marked the beginning of the war. Because of this war, innocent Trojans lost their homes, husbands, sons, and their loved ones. Brother of Paris, Hector, died in combat. The war took away thousands of lives. Mothers of sons wept in sorrow. Helen was the main cause of the
To those who already knew the stories of the Trojan War heroes (which all of the original Greek audience of the epic would),
After leaving her hometown and being taken to Troy by Paris, she realizes she doesn’t have such a liking for him but more so toward Hector. Helen believes he is more of a gentleman and has a better fondness of her feelings than Paris does. It’s shocking but also while all of that is still happening she blames some of these series of events on Aphrodite, a beautiful goddess, who is known for being the goddess of love, relationships, and is very supportive of Paris. She also helps out the Trojans while the war is happening.
When discussing literature, most people would say that The Iliad is the first great tragedy. In literature, a tragedy is defined as a work in which the main character or protagonist encounters extreme loss, pain, and/or sadness. Perhaps one of the most memorable and absolutely tragic deaths that really crushes the main character, Achilleus, in this story is the death of Patroklos, Achilleus’ closest friend and ally. Toward the end of the epic, as the Achaians are being pushed back hard by the Trojan army, Patroklos dons Achilleus’ armor and goes to battle in his stead. And in a disastrous turn of events, Apollo, Euphorbos, and Hektor all have a hand in Patroklos’ death. So, we ask this question: who is responsible for the death of Patroklos?
In the movie Troy and in its source, the Iliad written and portrayed by homer, there are three powerful states, Troy Greece and Sparta. The story begins with the Prince of Troy, Paris seducing the Queen of Sparta, Helena, and the King of Sparta, Menelous becomes enraged, so he asks his brother, the King of Greece, Agememnon to help him. The Agememnon sees this as an opportunity to control Troy and obliges. They gather their allies and send thousands of fleets to Troy. The Trojan War in the movie lasts several weeks in the movie and a decade in the book. The Trojans are defeated when the Greeks send a horse filled with men and Troy accepts it in its gates, and the Greeks successfully invade Troy, burning it down in flames. The story of the Iliad takes place in 1194 B.C – 1184 B.C and was written in 760B.C – 710B.C.
The Iliad by Homer is an epic poem separated in different books or chapters that shows a fictionalized account of the Trojan War. Book 6: Hector Returns to Troy is the specific portion of the poem that is being covered in this essay. Hector from the Iliad shows a very clear aspect of his personality, a strong sense of loyalty and tenderness for his loved ones and also his people by being on the front lines during the war and showing his people he is willing to fight with them and essentially sacrificing himself for his family. Hector even knows his forgiveness towards his brother, Paris even though Paris is the main reason the Trojan War is in existence.
Ingri and Edgar Parin D’alaure’s. Book of Greek Myths. New York: Bantam Dowbleday Dell Publishing Group, 1962.
Over the thousands of years that the epic story the Iliad has survived, there has no doubt been some form of alteration to Homer’s original. Last May, Wolfgang Petersen directed a movie based on the Iliad. This movie, Troy, has proven to be a very loose adaptation of Homer’s original, as are almost all stories that are made into movies, unfortunately. With its timeless storyline, amazing scenery, gorgeous actors/actresses and most of all, its reported two hundred million dollar budget, it is easy to see why Troy was hyped up to be a box office hit. However, the film critics were harsh on this movie, as they had every right to be, and it ended up being a total flop. Compared to Homer’s Iliad, Troy is rather disappointing. But, to be fair, one must keep in mind the limitations of a movie compared to those of a book, and the fact that the title is Troy, not the Iliad. It really is not as bad as expected. Troy is Homer’s Iliad gone to Hollywood. There probably are just as many similarities as differences from the original. The three major upsetting differences in Troy compared to the Iliad are the absence of the Gods, the weak character and plot development, and the addition, exclusion, and reversal of key points.
As we all know, Hollywood isn’t exactly accurate when it comes to the historical accuracy of movies. Although the Iliad is a myth, the movie Troy doesn’t follow the story quite as accurately as it could have. One major difference is the concept of time. In the Iliad, the battle spanned over a ten year period while in the movie, the battle only lasted about 17 days. However, it does have many similarities to the poem. Both the movie and the poem have similar plots as well as the feud of Achilles and Agamemnon, fall of Troy, the death of Patroclus, Achilles avenging the death of Patroclus and the supplication of Priam to Achilles. Other similarities include Thetis telling Achilles that if he is to stay home and refrain from fighting he will be forgotten. However, if he is to fight in the battle of Troy, he will be remembered forever. Another similarity can be found when Agamemnon confiscates Briseis from Achilles. There are many details in the movie that deviate from the epic poem as well. Some differences between the movie and the poem include the deaths of Agamemnon and Menelaus, the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, the portrayal of some of the characters and the role of the Gods in the plot. Also, according to the film, the capture of Troy seems to be the subject of the entire movie whereas in the epic poem, the subject is the wrath of Achilles. Also, the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is a little different. In the movie, Achilles and Patroclus are cousins and Patroclus is younger than Achilles. In the Iliad, Achilles and Patroclus are best friends. Patroclus is older than Achilles and acts as the advisor for Achilles. According to the epic poem, Achilles much more angry and violent than how he is portray...
The Iliad is a classic epic poem written by Homer about the Trojan War and the rage of an Achaean warrior, Achilles. The book introduces the reader to the war and the personal battle between Achilles and King Agamemnon; because of this argument between these two major characters, Homer introduces the role of the gods when Achilles asks his mother, Thetis, to go to Zeus and beg for his interference on Achilles’ behalf. The major role the gods play in the Iliad is their interference in the Trojan War as immortal versus immortal and mortal versus immortal.
The Iliad is not a story about the Trojan War at all, the war is just to set the stage for Homer to bring together the swift footed Achilles and Hector, the Prince of Troy, so they can be compared. The Iliad starts with how Achilles is dishonored by Agamemnon and withdraws from the war and ends with his return to the fight and eventually falling at the end. Hector is brought into the story and displays through his character what a real hero should be like.
Homer in his time painted a picture of male kings, soldiers, and heroes objectifying and owning women as their due spoils of leadership and/or conquests in games or war. In the Iliad the glory of the men in battle and games and individual fame were the main topics. There was an idea that a code of men existed which must be followed and if it were, that even immortality itself might be won. Contrastingly, in the Odyssey, women remained lovely and feminine yet were cast in to powerful roles both as goddesses and mortals. These goddesses held the life of Odysseus in their hands and his mortal wife Penelope held his future in her hands as she protected their home (Ahrensdorf 589). Penelope is cast in a “to the manner born” depiction in that Homer tells us she is the wife of a king, mother of a prince, and daughter of a king (Fagles 256/ book XIX). The king that was Penelope’s father was King of Sparta, Icarius the fastest runner of his time and only let Odysseus marry her because of losing a footrace to him.