What a way to begin the semester! Six months is too long to go without seeing a new action film or a romantic tragedy, and this epic has all three! Overall, I have been captivated by this story, all of the twists and turns - I really wish we were reading it all in class! Since we aren't, unfortunately, I will have to settle with what we are reading.
One of the most interesting things about this book thus far is the way that Homer juxtaposes the gods and the humans. Humans are messy, sure, but the gods? They are on a whole other level of messed up, and most of their actions are afflicted onto mankind. In the gods' minds, they are the most important beings in this universe, and they don't take kindly to anyone telling them otherwise. For instance, in book 3 of The Iliad, Helen refuses to go back to bed with her consort, Paris. Although it is for vain reasons that she doesn't want to be with him, Helen still has a right to refuse unwelcome advances. Aphrodite, however, only hears that her will is being denied. She threatens Helen with "...withering hate / from both sides at once, Trojans and Achaeans..." (483-484). This warning is so terrifying to Helen that she shuts up and goes with the love goddess as she commanded.
Homer then flips to another major romance within this epic, seemingly untouched by the gods (so far), the relationship between Hector and his wife, Andromache. Their relationship, marred by the touch of war, has all readers heartbroken for their loss of peace. Hector will never stop fighting until he knows that his Andromache and his Scamandrius are safe (554-556). Andromache will never stop fearing for her husband, seeing that he is all that she has left in this life (490-510). Overall, their love for each other is so deep; it seems almost impossible for the gods not to completely screw it up with the way that Homer has portrayed them.
What is Homer's ultimate plan in writing the gods in this way, as the beings who will never do humans right? Thoughts?
I commented on Hailey Morgan's and Micah's posts.
I think Homer portrayed the gods in such a way to make them more relatable. Think about it this way: Zeus is the guy who just appeases himself and is a bit of a thrill seeker, Ares is the destructive little kid on the playground who always wants to fight over everything, and Hera is the ultimate example of the "Karen" stereotype in public. Every god is written with flaws that can make for very sticky situations because Homer is "world building," or setting up the stories that we know today in greek mythology.
ReplyDelete(Hera as "Karen")... Holy cow! That had me balling laughing...I mean ya ain't wrong but at the same time. Wow! I have a completely different mental picture of Hera (insert Karen meme here). I know this isn't a very constructive comment but I haven't laughed this hard in a while.
DeleteI really thought it was hilarious how Homer wrote the gods into this story. I mean, you would think them being gods, they would be a little bit more wise and understanding dealing with each other. The humans always looked to them for decisions, but it appeared to me that the gods were even more petty and unwise than the humans were. Ironic really.
ReplyDeleteI think writing the gods as more relatable beings, with numerous flaws and problems(for instance, I think Aphrodite can be kind of a brat), elevates the humans. The juxtaposition of an extremely flawed immortal with a, while still flawed, honorable and strong soldier such as Hector is a great tool for elevating the reader or listener's idea of how truly strong and honorable a soldier is. Because Hector might be a great warrior, but he is still a flawed human. Showing him in comparison to a extremely flawed god helps the reader see him in the light Homer wants us to see him.
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