The Irrationality Of War In The Iliad By Homer

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The Greek epic The Iliad by Homer depicts the war shaped customs of Ancient Greece. Throughout the epic, the idea of war is championed by the characters as a form of problem-solving. This form of problem solving involves a social-Darwinian scenario where the strongest survive,which in turn develop honor and heroism for these winners. However, Homer utilizes the Greek’s romance with war as an instrument to criticize the violent practice. A culture formed around constant wars will become a culture that celebrates death and barbarities attitudes that emerge from war. Homer uses his characterization to represent the many actions that make war disgusting, unlogical , and an exhaustive method of conflict resolution. The drastic consequences Homer …show more content…
The constant war found in Ancient Greece created a culture and a society where its people are bred for war. Thus, creating a culture where being victorious brings honor and fame to your respective region. The role models younger generations aspire to become is distorted since the aspect of war is the only positive aspirations the community promotes. Therefore, the search for fame , honor , and glory create a dilemma where individuals will favor a war in order to enrich themselves with fame, at the expense of the others who die and the destruction caused to cities and other societies. Hector throughout the story presents this selfish act as he desires war against the Trojans. He states " o king of nations! whose superior sway (Returns Achilles) all our hosts obey! To keep or send the presents, be thy care; To us, 'tis equal: all we ask is war. (580). Hector call for war represents the idiosyncratic desire for fame found in Ancient Greece. Although Hector could potentially strive for a diplomatic approach to this problem, which would reduce damages, he urges to engage in war. The advancement of the Greek war cultures has evidently claimed Hector since he promotes the idea that war and violence are formidable methods of conflict resolution. Accordingly, the collective idea that war can solve transnational conflict is the reason why Hector does not accept gifts or engages in diplomatic talks with the other leaders.The malformed construed mindset shown by Hector demonstrates how the Greek war culture valued honor as it associated it with strength gained through war. Similarly, Homer presents Achilles 's conversation with Odysseus to present a non-conformist attitude to war. He states “ my fates long since by Thetis were disclosed... Here, if I stay, before the Trojan town, Short is my date, but deathless my renown: If I return, I quit

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