In The Iliad, Homer plays with the ideas that Zeus, the god and leader of all, may not be in charge after all. Many times during the text, Zeus bends to the wills of prophecies, mortals, and even other gods. As the story develops, Zeus becomes less in charge and more of a puppet for mortals and gods who want things from him. Through prophecy, Achilles, and Hera, this essay will take a look at the idea of Zeus simply being a puppet on strings in the hands of war.
Zeus is the most powerful of gods, the ruler of both mortals and immortals. Through The Iliad, Zeus thinks he is in charge, but he is afraid of prophecies and fate. It is known in the backstory of The Iliad that Zeus wanted to have sex with Thetis, but he was afraid that the child …show more content…
Achilles begs his mother, Thetis, to help him convince Zeus to take his side in the war and kill the Archean army for revenge. Thetis, angry for her son, goes to Zeus and begs him to help Achilles.
[H]onor my son Achilles!-- doomed to the shortest life of any man on earth.
And now the lord of men Agamemnon has disgraced …show more content…
Put Zeus to sleep for me! Seal his shining eyes as soon as I’ve gone to bed with him (377).
As soon as Sleep has agreed to help her, Hera goes to Zeus, drawing him away with promises of lust. They make love in a cloud and when they finish, Zeus falls asleep and Hera is able to change what she wishes of the battle, swaying the war in the Archaeans favor and reap havoc. Zeus has very little power, especially when it comes to the will of others being different than the will of himself. Through prophecies and the wills of Achilles and Hera, Zeus’ powers have been diminished and his ability to regain complete control and do as he wishes gone. Through The Iliad, he tries many times, but even he is too afraid to upset the balance of the war, especially when knowing that if he changes anything the fates of who will win shall change too. Other gods remind him multiple times that they will spurn him and not worship him if he meddles with the war, and that too keeps him from doing as he wishes. All in all, Zeus is simply another pawn on the playing field. He has no more power than any of the other gods and is driven by the need to be loved by
Zeus is the most powerful of gods, the ruler of both mortals and immortals. Through The Iliad, Zeus thinks he is in charge, but he is afraid of prophecies and fate. It is known in the backstory of The Iliad that Zeus wanted to have sex with Thetis, but he was afraid that the child …show more content…
Achilles begs his mother, Thetis, to help him convince Zeus to take his side in the war and kill the Archean army for revenge. Thetis, angry for her son, goes to Zeus and begs him to help Achilles.
[H]onor my son Achilles!-- doomed to the shortest life of any man on earth.
And now the lord of men Agamemnon has disgraced …show more content…
Put Zeus to sleep for me! Seal his shining eyes as soon as I’ve gone to bed with him (377).
As soon as Sleep has agreed to help her, Hera goes to Zeus, drawing him away with promises of lust. They make love in a cloud and when they finish, Zeus falls asleep and Hera is able to change what she wishes of the battle, swaying the war in the Archaeans favor and reap havoc. Zeus has very little power, especially when it comes to the will of others being different than the will of himself. Through prophecies and the wills of Achilles and Hera, Zeus’ powers have been diminished and his ability to regain complete control and do as he wishes gone. Through The Iliad, he tries many times, but even he is too afraid to upset the balance of the war, especially when knowing that if he changes anything the fates of who will win shall change too. Other gods remind him multiple times that they will spurn him and not worship him if he meddles with the war, and that too keeps him from doing as he wishes. All in all, Zeus is simply another pawn on the playing field. He has no more power than any of the other gods and is driven by the need to be loved by