Parent-Child Relations in the Iliad - Book Report/Review Example

In Iliad the child maybe treated by parents right and some are being cursed to death. However the importance of this relationship is being presented in Iliad and will be introduced to future generation to analyze their relationship with their parents. Phoenix is an old man who became the foster father of Achilles. He is the one who nurtured Achilles from early childhood. He is Achilles tutor hired by Peleus. When Phoenix was a young man he was cursed by his own father Amyntor to die because of the argument about concubine.

Amyntor has prayed that his son Phoenix never will have a son of his own to sit upon his knees. Gods of the underworld have made this curse come true. Though the infant Achilles sat on Phoenix's knees, Phoenix has never had a real son. Is this representation of a parent-child relationship is real In the early century the binding of the family ties are not that focus. They are after the welfare of themselves not of their family. It maybe difficult to explain how can fathers do such a thing but it happened not only to Phoenix but also to Meleagers.

In Iliad this two characters are being cursed both by their parents. In today's generation conflict with the parent and their child may happen but this case is isolated. Meleager's mother has prayed for his death and spirits of the underworld have heard her prayer. She "beat the earth with her hands, calling upon Hades and on awful Persephone; she went down upon her knees and her bosom was wet with tears as she prayed that they would kill her son - and Erinys that walks in darkness and knows no pity heard her from Erebos [the underworld]" (Iliad 9.555). This mother's curse is the cause of Meleager's anger and refusal to fight when his city is under attack.

It is ironic to think that a mother would do this to her child. The relationship of a parent to her child presented in this part may not give a good example for the others. Some would think that parents would not be their saviour anymore but the cause of their failures. It is sad to realized that others would not love their child like others do. Achilles and his parentsThe parents of Achilles are not with him. These parents aren't living together, except in Achilles. Like human body and spirit, they're not even found on the same plane of reality!

Achilles is confused what to choose, to sail home from Troy or to win glory to Troy. If he chooses to sail home he will be with his father Peleus but still he will not have immortality of any kind. If he chooses to win glory at Troy, he never will return home to his father, but his goddess mother will immortalize him in song and dress him in the armor of a god.Parents should not give confusion to their child but in Achilles case he was confused as to which path he will go. In Book 1 of Iliad, Achilles refuses to fight and decided to go home; he was humiliated and looks for her mother to comfort him.

He weeps and asks his mother Thetis to help him to win justice. Zeus is in Thetis' debt; in a revolt of the gods in which Zeus was nearly defeated, only Thetis' intervention saved him. Achilles tells her what has happened and asks Thetis to