Deception In The Iliad Analysis

Furthermore, a key factor for inspiration is the ability to relate to the personages you are trying to inspire. However, the gods are only able to relate through deception. Instead of humbling themselves and forming a connection with mortals, they change their appearance to a family member or companion in order to become more relatable. During the onslaught of Patroclus, Hector debates with himself on whether or not to retreat in order to save the lives of his men. As he was contemplating, Apollo appears in the form of Hector’s uncle, Asius, and convinces him to fight Patroclus (436). Instead of attempting to persuade Hector in his own image, Apollo chose to appear as someone Hector trusted, respected, and fought with in order to relate to …show more content…
Inspiration requires the subject to have the free will to choose to follow; not be coerced out of fear. Trust among mortals can only be attained through consistency and an acute moral compass. However, the gods in Homer 's the Iliad are intentionally deceptive, unnecessarily violent, and irrevocably dishonorable. Their deception is a common theme throughout the book. For example, the entire Trojan war began due to Zeus ' deception. Agamemnon was beginning to decline the notion of war with Troy when Zeus convinced him to reconsider. He told Agamemnon that all of Olympus was in favor of an Argive victory, when in fact, he planned on awarding victory to Troy (99). Not only did Zeus lie about the gods ' unanimous decision, he suppressed those who wished to help Agamemnon (146). In addition, Hector met his death due to the gods ' deception. While Hector was fleeing certain death from Achilles, Athena appeared to him in the form of a comrade. She convinced the Trojan warrior that together they could defeat Achilles. Hector believed her and was soon slaughtered, alone, at the hand of Achilles (549). In addition to beginning the war, the gods also lobby for the bloodshed to continue by refusing to let the war end. After days of battling, the two armies call a cease-fire and a single duel, between Menelaus and Paris, to decide to war. Menelaus defeats Paris, however, Paris is flown to safety by Aphrodite before Menelaus can usher the final blow (141). The mortals, despite Aphrodite 's attempt to spoil the duel, declare Menelaus the winner and demand that the Trojans accept their defeat. However, Athena convinces the trojans to break the truce and the fighting continues (148). The clearest proof of the gods ' inferiority lies in the numerous instances where gods stoop lower than