A Comment: Homer's Iliad

A Comment: Homer’s Iliad

The idea of heroism and the characteristics which are attributed to “the hero” have been the primary focus in past topics concerning Greek literature including mythology, and the Iliad. I find one of the most intriguing themes which is crucial to foreseeing the rise and development of tragedy in Homer’s Iliad, occur within the relationship between mortals and gods. Gods represent hierarchal, powerful beings with diverse and insurmountable power. Compared to mortals, they share similarities of greed, love, hate, lust, and honor. The most idealized similarity which is seen in the Iliad is the result of uncontrollable rage, the lust after power and dire devotion to honor.

Evidence of tragedy, before tragedy begins, is shown within the relationship between the gods. Their impact is crucial. Their role is crucial. The gods foreshadow the future events of the play as well as set the tone.

Supreme beings themselves, the inter-play they experience with eachother, whether it be positive or negative, has little effect on their own kind. Gods are immortal. This being said, it is important to see the effects of their actions when directed toward the mortals in the story, as their presence as well as their intentions, directly shape the events which take place on earth. It is in this recognition that the audience shares in the tragedy, before the entirety of the tragedy occurs, as we see these events unfold, we have the opportunity to “read between the lines” and concern ourselves with the unfortunate impact the gods have on the humans in regards to their personal agenda being a driving force which empowers a series of unfortunate events.

Characteristic of mythology, each god has their “strong suit” in which they have a certain power, signature to them alone. There are various representations of this throughout the literature, whereby human emotion appears enhanced by the presence or interference of a god. This shows that the gods play an almost active role in human affairs. The disturbing element in this theme is that, while the gods “play” with eachother and interact in violent or scarcastic ways which are either a result of vengeance or gratitude, the result of their behaviour does not affect their kind, as it would with mortals.

Therefore, their actions are very dangerous when imposed onto human circumstance- physical or emotional. They become the tone, the driving force, the sometimes physical force, behind the events which take place. Their own agenda of greed or vengeance between eachother, becomes a game…a game which represents life or death to mortals.

In a modern sense, the idea of gods playing a role in which dictated or manipulated the path of the human, can be compared to what we consider human consciousness. What we think and feel…what “drives us” to act certain ways, is a result of our inner conscious. In this light, it is as though Homer is depicting the natural and animalistic senses which are characteristic of human nature and shows the impact of civilization and maybe even the impact and integration of religion in human existence, which makes these “raw” instincts submerge until something triggers those instincts again…such as the voice of the gods, or rather, the voice of the human conscious.

That’s all.