The Timeless Truths of Homers Iliad - 1784 Words

James Hutchinson Ms. Spicer AP Literature 20 August 2010 Homers Timeless Truths Is Homers The Iliad relevant to todays society? Is this work a timeless parable depicting universal human truths transcending time and context or merely a superbly-crafted epic poem to be studied and admired for its stylistic brilliance? Has the text endured simply because of Homers dramatic verse or because of the timeless human truths it conveys? Was it written to persuade readers to question the moral implications and savagery of war or simply to provide provocative entertainment? These questions have been posed for centuries yet rarely have been sufficiently answered. However, an astute student of contemporary politics, media, and entertainment†¦show more content†¦The arrogant, manipulative gods pulling strings from their plush thrones on Mount Olympus bring to mind modern-day politicians. They can be seen as archetypes of todays detached bureaucrats. Zeus and his fellow gods dispassionately toy with mortals, watching with amusement as they cut one another down on the blood-soaked battlefield of windy Troy. Shamelessly, like merciless puppeteers, they create tension between the mortals for their own personal entertainment, with little regard for the inevitable mayhem and carnage that ensues. Indeed, the ten-year conflict at Troy is indirectly sparked by the vain goddess Aphrodites desire to be recognized as the â€Å"fairest† beauty among the goddesses, yet as soon as the fighting begins, she pleads neutrality. Similarly, Zeus himself shows little concern for the rampant slaughter among mortals taking place on his watch, even though initially he aids Achilles in his revenge against the Greeks. More than a few critics of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have decried the dispassionate way in which U.S. â€Å"chickenhawk† non-combatants such as George Bush, Dick Cheney, and now Barack Obama have heartlessly made â€Å"strategic military decisions† from the safe environs of the White House that have had mortal consequenc es for U.S. troops on the front lines in Kabul and Baghdad. For many observers, the U.S. political elite bears more than slight resemblance to the gods ofShow MoreRelatedSocrates And Achilles1466 Words   |  6 Pagesthis particular example does not highlight a similarity between Socrates and Achilles, it is extremely effective in arguing Socrates’ case to the jury. Socrates proved time and time again that his calling in life was to philosophize and pursue the truth. Even with the threat of death looming above him, Socrates refused to falter in his conviction that knowledge and learning should be held in highest esteem. In one fell swoop, Socrates both implies that the jury should recognize his intellectual teachingsRead More Sport, Education, and the Meaning of Victory Essay examples3416 Words   |  14 Pageswin fair and square sometimes see the moral victory and the lions share of admiration awarded to a losing competitor. Our conception of a winner runs much deeper than the ability to fulfill the analytic definition of victory in sport. In Homers Iliad (XXIII, 823-880), there is an account of a foot race at Patroclus funeral games in which the goddess Athena chooses her favorite Odysseus as the winner of the race and ensures his victory by having his younger opponent Ajax slip and fall in someRead MoreEssay on The Odyssey21353 Words   |  86 Pageswife of Menelaus and the cause of the Trojan War. Helens portrayal is more striking than that of Menelaus. She is back with Menelaus at Sparta, happy and at peace, having learned from her sufferings. The tenderness which she possesses in The Iliad is turned to new purposes here in The Odyssey. Antinous - the most vociferous and proud of the suitors. He plots Telemachus death and often leads the suitors in their mistreatment of Odysseus and his household. Eurymachus - another outspoken