From the very beginning stages of this essay, it has continuously evolved, taken shape, and progressed. Initially, I could understand how one would believe that Thucydides did not have a preferred method of government between Aristocracy and Democracy. I believed that human nature lied somewhere in between Athens and Sparta, and they were the two inhumane extremes of human nature. But after careful consideration of the entirety of the History of the Peloponnesian War, I have found quotations to support a different claim. Additionally, this careful consideration has helped me determine how this affects what Thucydides says about human nature. The same careful consideration has helped me understand what Homer says in the Iliad about Achilles’
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Even though Thucydides believes human nature is found through our conscious benevolent choices, Homer thinks we don’t have a choice, because everyone has a moira, which isn’t revealed until their death. Ultimately, mortality is what makes humans unique from gods. Occasionally, characters are even aware of this notion like in the case of Hector, “I wish I were as sure of immortality and eternal youth and honor like Apollo’s and Pallas Athena’s as I am that this is a black day for the Greeks” (Iliad 8.548-551). After Hector imposes his will upon the Greeks and lights fire to their campsites, Hector shouts this at the end of his cheer for the Trojan war successes. It is important to note that this comparison contrasts how confident he is that it is a black day for the Greeks with how he wishes he was sure of immortality. He knows that immortality is not within his ability. This shows that Hector, one of the protagonists of the Iliad is self aware of death and his own mortality. Additionally, this quote’s location is important because it shows early on that Hector knows he will die. Achilles, the other protagonist, also recognizes how incredibly critical the value of his life is. Keeping in mind that the Greeks and Trojans live in a society where almost exclusively geras and glory in war are valued above everything else, Achilles disagrees, “Nothing is worth my life, not all the riches they say Troy held before the Greeks came” (Iliad 9.415-416). Achilles, just like Hector, affirms that he is self-aware of the importance of his own life just by saying nothing is worth my life. This shows that he values it above all else. Even though at times it seems as if Achilles will never die, he knows that he will and he does not wish to relinquish it
Even though Thucydides believes human nature is found through our conscious benevolent choices, Homer thinks we don’t have a choice, because everyone has a moira, which isn’t revealed until their death. Ultimately, mortality is what makes humans unique from gods. Occasionally, characters are even aware of this notion like in the case of Hector, “I wish I were as sure of immortality and eternal youth and honor like Apollo’s and Pallas Athena’s as I am that this is a black day for the Greeks” (Iliad 8.548-551). After Hector imposes his will upon the Greeks and lights fire to their campsites, Hector shouts this at the end of his cheer for the Trojan war successes. It is important to note that this comparison contrasts how confident he is that it is a black day for the Greeks with how he wishes he was sure of immortality. He knows that immortality is not within his ability. This shows that Hector, one of the protagonists of the Iliad is self aware of death and his own mortality. Additionally, this quote’s location is important because it shows early on that Hector knows he will die. Achilles, the other protagonist, also recognizes how incredibly critical the value of his life is. Keeping in mind that the Greeks and Trojans live in a society where almost exclusively geras and glory in war are valued above everything else, Achilles disagrees, “Nothing is worth my life, not all the riches they say Troy held before the Greeks came” (Iliad 9.415-416). Achilles, just like Hector, affirms that he is self-aware of the importance of his own life just by saying nothing is worth my life. This shows that he values it above all else. Even though at times it seems as if Achilles will never die, he knows that he will and he does not wish to relinquish it