Homer’s Representation of Individuality in Greek Oral Traditions
Homer is conservatively deemed as the author and creator of Greek writing as well as the entire Western literary tradition. With his notable works, The Odyssey and The Iliad, Homer largely defined the direction of Greek mythology based on his recollection and transformation of ancient oral traditions into written narratives. However, the difference between Homer and most authors of oral traditions is based specifically on his representation of the narrative’s characters. Undeniably, the author presents the characters he creates by supplementing individuality, which ultimately establishes the personal disparities that exist among them. This is best shown by the lives and actions …show more content…
Accordingly, the decisions made by the different characters are motivated by personal motives, which affect their lives in a disparate and surprising way than anticipated. Interestingly, each of the decision made by the characters succeeds in imposing different implications on them as well as the lives of other persons around them. In this case, the use of individuality allows the characters to undergo development as persons. For instance, Achilles’ initial decision to abandon Agamemnon’s war is influenced by Nestor’s decision in attempting to convince Agamemnon to send a convoy to Achilles in order for him to return to war (Hunt et al. 94). Despite the different motives of the characters, the unexpected decision by Achilles to abandon the war and Nestor’s involvement illustrate the individual differences between both …show more content…
This is best evidenced by the conflicting father-son association that exists between Priam and Hector. Additionally, the introduction of ancestral loyalty identifies the author’s development of the respective characters as different individuals due to its implications on their behavior (Homer 56). In another illustration, the relationship between Odysseus and his wife, Penelope, also reflects Homer’s supplementation of individuality on the respective characters. In this case, the connection that exists between the two allows Penelope to maintain faithful commitment to her husband, despite the efforts of suitors to marry her and seize the family’s wealth (Hunt et al. 44). In this respect, both representations of relationships reveal the extent to which the characters according to Homer are
Homer is conservatively deemed as the author and creator of Greek writing as well as the entire Western literary tradition. With his notable works, The Odyssey and The Iliad, Homer largely defined the direction of Greek mythology based on his recollection and transformation of ancient oral traditions into written narratives. However, the difference between Homer and most authors of oral traditions is based specifically on his representation of the narrative’s characters. Undeniably, the author presents the characters he creates by supplementing individuality, which ultimately establishes the personal disparities that exist among them. This is best shown by the lives and actions …show more content…
Accordingly, the decisions made by the different characters are motivated by personal motives, which affect their lives in a disparate and surprising way than anticipated. Interestingly, each of the decision made by the characters succeeds in imposing different implications on them as well as the lives of other persons around them. In this case, the use of individuality allows the characters to undergo development as persons. For instance, Achilles’ initial decision to abandon Agamemnon’s war is influenced by Nestor’s decision in attempting to convince Agamemnon to send a convoy to Achilles in order for him to return to war (Hunt et al. 94). Despite the different motives of the characters, the unexpected decision by Achilles to abandon the war and Nestor’s involvement illustrate the individual differences between both …show more content…
This is best evidenced by the conflicting father-son association that exists between Priam and Hector. Additionally, the introduction of ancestral loyalty identifies the author’s development of the respective characters as different individuals due to its implications on their behavior (Homer 56). In another illustration, the relationship between Odysseus and his wife, Penelope, also reflects Homer’s supplementation of individuality on the respective characters. In this case, the connection that exists between the two allows Penelope to maintain faithful commitment to her husband, despite the efforts of suitors to marry her and seize the family’s wealth (Hunt et al. 44). In this respect, both representations of relationships reveal the extent to which the characters according to Homer are