External Forces In Homer's Iliad

Human agency is easily affected by external forces. Force is generally defined as the subjection of people. In The Iliad, an epic poem, the most powerful external force are the gods. However, The Iliad shows that humans are not chess pieces for the gods manipulation. While the gods have a tremendous influence on the lives of humans, the characters show that humanity has choice and can be independent actors in their life. Homer shows us a strong the relationship is between warriors; Achilles and Patroclus. Within this relationship we see men exerting their will in regards to lives, their relationship, and ultimately how they die. Although the Gods, like Zeus put the characters in difficult positions and have most of the power in the poem, the …show more content…
Patroclus is warned of his fate when Achilles directly tells him “the end of life came blazing up before you” (p.438, line 915), but Patroclus being the proud person he is, chooses to ignore it. Having the most powerful warrior by his side created jealousy and intensified the obligation for Patroclus to prove his masculinity and strengthened his need to fight for honor. In the text Patroclus “killed so many men in war”(p.439, line 967) and seems to have earned kleos (fame). Unfortunately, Hector exploited him over his dying body by saying “the hero stayed behind” (Achilles), making Patroclus’s death ignoble. While Patroclus’s choice to enter battle may have seemed like a loyal gesture to Achilles, putting his life on the line was for one thing; (his own) glory. Patroclus wanted the eternal distinction of dying a war hero. Patroclus knew that if he died serving his army, he could obtain this honor that all Greek warriors idolized but only the dead could …show more content…
This group can mold and bend the fate of others as they please. The gods are seen as untouchable higher powers that acquire “omnipresence” that looks over all, but fate can certainly be intervened. The reality is, the people of this Greek community would just rather not go against society than face its consequences. This is the price that society pays for security of a community (Prof. Izenburg). Now the ones who are viewed to remove free will are politicians and can be compared to the hierarchy of gods. Like the gods, they have great influence on the lives of people but this does not mean that the people do not have free will. People can resist and go against societal norms, they just have to be willing to pay the cost and risk of being marginalized by