In book III of the Iliad when Aphrodite makes Helen reunite with Paris after battle; Helen uses verbal agency. This means she does not use her actions but instead her words, to show Aphrodite that she does not want to be with Paris. She makes her own decision that she does not want to be with Paris and in that moment she has more power than Aphrodite. **Helen exclaims “Never set foot again on Mount Olympus, never!- suffer for Paris, protect Paris, for eternity… until he makes you his wedded wife- that or his slave” (III. 472-474) to Aphrodite, who is a goddess. This quote demonstrates that Helen does not care about the consequences of her actions, only that her voice is heard. Helen is a strong character in this moment and can be seen through
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This occurs when she says “I might make you the butt of hard, withering hate from both sides at once… then your fate can tread you down to dust.” (III. 483-485) When Aphrodite mentions both sides hating Helen, it scares her because she already is not liked by the Trojan women. This is shown when Helen says “the women of Troy would scorn me down the years.” (III. 477) Helen does not want to end up alone because women that are alone are seen as about to be abducted or raped. (Women’s Rituals in the Iliad forum... not sure how to cite this) Once Helen realizes this she “went along, in silence” (III. 487) with Aphrodite. Helen starts to obey what Aphrodite says once she realizes the consequences for her actions if she keeps acting in that way. This causes Helen to lose her verbal agency, since she was threatened. The “silence” (III. 489) shows that Helen is forced to be that way, even though just a few lines prior Helen is criticizing Aphrodite. It is only when Aphrodite scolds her that Helen remembers that she cannot speak freely. However, if Helen was more powerful, she would not be swayed by other forces, like a god or goddess. This just shows that Helen on her own has verbal agency, but around higher authority, she is more submissive and inclined to follow the what is being asked of
This occurs when she says “I might make you the butt of hard, withering hate from both sides at once… then your fate can tread you down to dust.” (III. 483-485) When Aphrodite mentions both sides hating Helen, it scares her because she already is not liked by the Trojan women. This is shown when Helen says “the women of Troy would scorn me down the years.” (III. 477) Helen does not want to end up alone because women that are alone are seen as about to be abducted or raped. (Women’s Rituals in the Iliad forum... not sure how to cite this) Once Helen realizes this she “went along, in silence” (III. 487) with Aphrodite. Helen starts to obey what Aphrodite says once she realizes the consequences for her actions if she keeps acting in that way. This causes Helen to lose her verbal agency, since she was threatened. The “silence” (III. 489) shows that Helen is forced to be that way, even though just a few lines prior Helen is criticizing Aphrodite. It is only when Aphrodite scolds her that Helen remembers that she cannot speak freely. However, if Helen was more powerful, she would not be swayed by other forces, like a god or goddess. This just shows that Helen on her own has verbal agency, but around higher authority, she is more submissive and inclined to follow the what is being asked of