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Pain or Pain?//Haylee Lynd

         For nine years, the Trojans and Acheans have fought, and while it is extremely clear that they want the war to end, war is still all Hector can think about. I find it ironic that Hector's son fears him. He recoils "cringing against his nurse's full breast, screaming out at the sight of his own father"(Homer 211) because of his armor. The boy fears the sight of his father dressed for war, a thing which in our time is feared because it brings about death. However, Hector is ready to face his fate, even if that be dying, and he prays that Zeus make his son strong and respected for the killing of the enemy in war. If it was me, I'd be daydreaming about peace and harmony. I would pray my son not have to fight the same as I, to experience the sight of blood in battle, and to leave this wife to fight.

    There's this dynamic created where you either bring dishonor and shame upon your family by not fighting and facing your fate in war, whether that be victory or death, or you bring fear and grief upon them by going into battle and facing death. The culture of honor and glory for men is a culture of pain and grief for their women and children. For instance, Hector's wife, along with her women, begin grieving the loss of her husband before he has even died in battle because she knows it is to come. Yet, if Hector would've chosen not to face his fate, there would still be pain bought upon the women for their worth is defined by that of their husband's. It really leads one to appreciate the culture change which has occurred that allows women to define their own worth today.


P.S. I commented on Jamie and Haley Riddle's posts.

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