World Literature. Books of Iliad (Troy) - Essay Example

? World Literature Inserts His/Her of 10 October In the three books of Iliad (Troy), morality is intertwined with other themes. The research focuses on morality as the persuading of a person to act in a standard or required manner. The research centers on three morality concerns. The three books espouse the morality of feminism, leadership, and loyalty. The Iliad story focuses on the importance of incorporating humanism values in everyone’s dealings with other persons. Humanism focuses on a person’s values as well as concerns. The three books of Homer’s Iliad is a convincing reference for prioritizing the importance of emphasizing humanism’s morality of feminism, leadership, and loyalty. Morality of Leadership In terms of humanism in leadership, Iliad’s Homer shows the importance of incorporating morality to instill value in the soldiers’ lives. The leaders, especially Home, must fill the soldiers’ needs to search for meaning during their daily war duties. Consequently, Homer offers the soldiers more freedom to pursue their self determination. Thus, moral leaders, especially Iliad’s Homer, must establish meaning in the soldiers’ lives by establishing shared values. Homer states that killing the enemy is morally right. “Nestor in a great voice cried out to the men of Argos ‘O beloved Danaan fighters…let us kill the men now… (Homer 31) Based on Book 1, Book 6, and Book 7 of Homer’s epic poem, Iliad, it is very evident that the Iliad (meaning Troy) is a source of moral instruction for the Greek youth. First, the three books teach the morality of leadership. Book 1 line 53 shows leadership as follows: “Now when they were all assembled in one place together, Achilleus of the swift feet stood up among them and spoke forth: ‘Son of Atreus, I believe now that straggling backwards we must make our way home if we can even escape death…” (Homer 15). The above quote clearly shows that Achilleus was a very strong leader. He could easily rally the people to do his bidding. His bidding is to recover Helen, the Greek King’s wife from the embracing arms of Troy’s Apollo. His leadership is grounded on his excellent ability to fight in the battle field. His followers are so enthralled by Achilleus’ effortless overpowering of the Troy soldiers in all facets of the besieging of Troy’s impenetrable walls. Achilleus’ leadership is very encompassing. The people eagerly obey his every command without reservation due to Achilleus leadership prowess. Achilleus analyzes the situation in battle, ponders his very next command, and implements his very thought to win the battle in whatever manner possible. His command to go home in the thick of an unfavorable battle outcome is his best strategy to win the war. In addition Book 7 emphasizes Hector’s strong leadership in the field of battle. Hector bravely persuades the Greek army to choose one of its bravest soldiers to fight him on a one on one battle. Hector states “Tis Hector speaks, and calls the gods to hear: From all your troops select the boldest knight, Her I fall, by chance of battle slain, Be his my spoil, and his these arms remain; But let my body, to my friends returned, By Trojan hands and Trojan flames be burned” (Homer 212). Morality of Loyalty In terms of Humanism in loyalty, Iliad’s Homer emphasizes the necessary importance of to include the morality of loyalty during the trial period in a person’s daily life. Iliad’s Homer expresses the moral humanistic responsibility of the soldiers to loyally serve and die for the King and the nation. The soldiers are loyally willing to give up their lives to safeguard the royal family, including Helen of Troy, and the citizens from harm. Homer’s Iliad emphasized “ So grim the grim encounter of Achaians and Trojans was left to itself, and the battle veered greatly now one way, now in another.…(Homer 30)” In terms of loyalty, Achilleus stated in line 152 of Book 1 “I for my part did not come here for the sake of the Trojan spearmen to fight against them, since to me they have done nothing. Never yet have they driven away my cattle or my horses…but for your sake, o great shamelessness, we followed, to do you favor, you with the dog’s eyes, to win your honor and Menelaos’ from the Trojans” (Homer 17). In reply, Agamemnon tells Achilleus, when Achilleus requests to return home in line 173, “run away by all means if your heart drives you. I will not entreat you to stay here for my sake. There are others with me who will do me honor” (Homer 18). The above quote clearly shows that Achilleus is willing to gamble everything, even his own precious life for the king and his country, Greece. However, Achilleus’ continuing losing streak due to his army’s inability to break the impenetrable walls of Troy has caused the waning of Achilleus’ loyalty to the king and Greece. In disdainful response, the king instructs Achilleus to run away as a coward in battle. The king impresses on the deserter-prone Achilleus that there are still other leaders who are willing to take up the cudgels of battle from Achilleus’ hand for the sake of the king and Greece. Likewise, line 250 shows loyalty includes dying for one’s king and country “In his time two generations of mortal men had perished, those who had grown up with him and they who had been born in these in sacred Pylos, and he was king in the third age” (Homer 20). The above quote displays the image where the time of the Iliad was a time of war. Thus, it is customary for a nation to field its men to fight battles for the country and king. The Iliad shows that men during the Iliad days seldom grow compared to the people of today’s war –absent generation. The Iliad story shows that the decline in the growing old phenomenon is due to the men are immediately sent to the battle field when they reach the age of maturity (adulthood). In addition, Book 6 line 133 vividly shows the morality of loyalty as synonymous with the unwavering giving one’s life for the king and country “Me glory summons to the martial scene, the field of combat is the sphere for men. Where heroes war, the foremost place I claim, the first in danger as the first in fame” (Homer 205). The above quote indicates that a man is a better person if one dies in the field of battle when compared to dying peacefully at home. The above quote shows that all men are born to be brave soldiers who must do their awe-inspiring duty to devote one’s life to obey every command of the king. The commands of the king may even include placing the soldiers’ life in danger to protect the king and the Greek nation. Thus, death in the battlefield is more of the soldiers’ compulsory duty than a preference. to include the morality of loyalty during the trial period in a person’s daily life. Iliad’s Homer expresses the moral humanistic responsibility of the soldiers to loyally serve and die for the King and the nation. The soldiers are loyally willing to give up their lives to safeguard the royal family, including Helen of Troy, and the citizens from harm. Homer’s Iliad emphasized “ So grim the grim encounter of Achaians and Trojans was left to itself, and the battle veered greatly now one way, now in another.…(Homer 30)” Morality of Feminism In terms of feminism, Iliad’s Homer emphasizes the necessary importance of women’s rights in relation to their role within the context of humanism. Homer’s Hera implemented the morality of feminism. Feminism includes the right to chastity. Further, the morality of feminism is grounded on complexity. Hera epitomizes the female gender’s right to offer unwavering and all-encompassing capacity to love. Hera exercises her right to display strong female sexuality. Hera implements her right to display an independent mind to do whatever she pleases. The Hera personality is the very essence of humanism’s modern day feminism. Line 55 of Book 1 states Hera, a goddess of the white arms exercised her right to have pity on the Danaans when she observed the people on their deathbed in the battle field (Homer 15). The line explains the woman’s right to focus on caring for the wounded Danaans. Humanism’s feminism ethics indicates the women’s right to do whatever pleases the female gender. Line194 goes “Athene descended from the sky. For Hera the goddess of the white arms sent her, who loved both men equally in her heart and cared for them. The goddess standing behind Peleus’ son caught him by the fair hair, appearing to him only…” (Homer 19). The line shows Hera exercising her right to help someone in distress. Likewise, feminism indicates a woman has the right to freely care for her husband. However, caring must be curtailed in some aspects. Line 545 states Hera should stop hoping she will hear her husband’s thoughts. The husband tells Hera that not a single person would have the courage to say the words that Hera is expecting to hear. The husband beseeches Hera to stop bothering the husband to divulge the husband’s every thought, especially during times of difficulty (Homer 28). Lastly, the Iliad has more convincing proofs to prove that the Iliad focuses more on being a moral booster compared to causing the readers to avoid morality. In every issue, there are two major ways to interpret a situation. The people can either use positive or negative interpretation of the situation. The above discussion proves that the same Book 1, Book 6, and Book 7 of Homer’s epic poem, Iliad, present solid proof that the Iliad is not a source of moral corruption which should be banned from the Greek youth’s daily lessons. Based on the above discussion, Books 1, Book 6, and Book 7 of the Iliad (Troy) focus on the significance of humanism’s morality intertwined with the themes of leadership, loyalty, and feminism. The morality topic includes persuading a person to act in a standard or required ethical manner. The Iliad’s morality issue zeroes in on the importance of the three popular morality areas in Greek society. Indeed, the three books of Homer’s Iliad are very convincing sources of moral instruction for the Iliad prioritizes the importance of espousing humanism’s morality of feminism, leadership, and loyalty. Works Cited Homer, Iliad. New York: Richter Press, 2006. Print Read More