Iliad-Odyssey Paper Essays - Trojans, Ancient Greek Religion

Iliad-Odyssey Paper Essays - Trojans, Ancient Greek Religion Iliad-Odyssey Paper Hate to Love ?I lie upon my bed with my afflicted heart, besieged by tears so stubborn and so sharp that, even as I mourn, tear me apart? (Odyssey 19.610-13). The preceding quote made by the heartbroken and devoted Penelope in Homer?s the Odyssey shows an intensity of feeling that is lacking within his earlier work, the Iliad. It is amid the latter epic that the female roles are able to step into the limelight and express the befitting emotion that give the Odyssey a philanthropic feel. Therefore it is the female characters within the Odyssey that incorporate attention to compassion because they demonstrate greater altruistic expression than men especially here when compared with the Iliad. In the Iliad the dominant role is played by men hence women had to wait backstage to prove their own complexity of character. The highly regarded ancient Greek society was overseen by the males, that is, the women weren?t involved unless they had permission by the men. Women were valued the Iliad opens with the Achaian army?s capturing of two beautiful enemy maidens, Chryseis and Briseis, who are then awarded as prizes to Agamemnon but, in comparison to men, their concerns weren?t as proclaimed in early epic poetry. In the Iliad, for example, Hektor orders Andromache back into the house during the ensuing Trojan War: Go home, attend to your own handiwork at the loom and spindle, and command the maids to busy themselves, too. As for the war, that is for the men, all who were born at Ilion, to put their minds on most of all for me (Iliad 6.436- 40). Hektor also desires his own baby son to be a great warrior rather than being active in domestic affairs as he prays: O Zeus and all immortals, may this child, my son, become like me a prince among the Trojans. Let him be strong and brave and rule in power at Ilion; then someday men will say ?this fellow is far better than his father!? seeing him home from war, and in his arms the bloodstained gear of some tall warrior slain making his mother proud (Iliad 6.419-27). (Ironically, just before Hektor made this plea to the gods his baby ?squirmed round...and began to wail, terrified by his father?s great war helm? and thereafter was comforted by his mother?s ?fragrant breast? as she ?held and cherished? her small son.) Later when Hektor becomes frightened of the realness of encountering Achilles he says, ?Aye, then and there he?ll kill me, unprotected as I am, my gear laid by, defenseless as a woman? (Iliad 22.149-51). However, it?s in the Odyssey that a man puts his trust his own life?s safety in a woman to direct and protect him on his arduous journey. The men of the Iliad are incredibly jealous creatures whereas in the Odyssey they show sensitivity that rivals that of the women who have enhanced their shrewdness. Achilles gets angry because Agamemnon acquires the ?best? war prizes without fairly earning them: You [Agamemnon] thick-skinned, shameless, greedy fool!.. . . Never have I had a plunder like your own from any Trojan stronghold battered down by the Akhaians. I have seen more action hand to hand in those assaults than you have, but when the time for sharing comes, the greater share is always yours. Worn out with battle I carry off some trifle to my ships (Iliad 1.175-196). -#- Achilles later sits and weeps childishly to his mother, Thetis, over his prize being rewarded to his adversary. Thetis actually feels responsible for her son?s misery as she declares, ?Oh early death! Oh broken heart! No destiny so cruel! And I bore you to this evil!? (Iliad 1.481-2). The mother never scolds her son. In contrast, Odysseus becomes more empathetic throughout the Odyssey because Athena brings out a new humaneness within the hero. Odysseus refrains from gloating after he kills the suitors that have overtaken his palace and scolds his maid for rejoicing: ?Old woman, check yourself; you must restrain your joy don?t shout aloud. It is profane to let your voice exult when men are slain? (Odyssey 22.480-83). His selfless attitude gives the