Human excellence is in a person who achieves perfection. Perfection is the process of striving to become what one was indented for. Therefore, an excellent human is a person who has become what they were created for. In The Iliad of Homer many characters show aspects of this excellence. However, one character especially lives according to his purpose. In this paper, I will explain why Chryses shows human excellence. Chryses exemplifies perfection in three ways; he is the faithful priest of Apollo, a loving father and a man respected by the gods and mortals. Chryses shows human excellence in his faithfulness to Apollo. “Over and over the old man prayed as he walked in solitude to the King Apollo, ‘Hear me … if ever it pleased your heart that
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In The Iliad of Homer, character qualities are often revealed by how the other characters react and view one another. “Then all the rest of the Achaians cried out in favor that the priest be respected and the shining ransom be taken;” (Book 1, 22-23). Reactions by society often determine if a person’s actions are socially acceptable. Obviously the Greeks approved of Chryses, they accepted him, and then developed a strong respect for him. The people are upset when Agamemnon refused Chryses’ request. They disagree of the judgment from their all-powerful king (Book 1, 20-25). A person does not reach perfection simply because others approve of them. However in The Iliad of Homer, the respect and approval from the Achaian people comes from the same ways in which Chryses achieves perfection. Secondly, Apollo holds Chryses in high regard. “Apollo heard him” (Book 1, 43) and his was angered by his priest was not respected. Apollo continues to rain plagues on the Greeks until his priest receives his daughter with no cost to Chryses. If Apollo did not have high respect for Chryses, he would not grant his prayer, let alone plague an entire kingdom in response. After Chryses receives his daughter, he goes to Apollo and asks him to end the plagues. “Hear me, lord of the sliver bow, … ;if once before you listened to my prayers and did me honor and smote strongly the host of the Achaians, so one more time bring to pass the wish that I pray for (Book 1, 451-455).” This shows mercy in Chryses. He does not want the kingdom to suffer out of personal revenge for capturing his daughter. Chryses is more closely connected to his final purpose of being a priest and father, not a vengeful warrior. Once again, Apollo listens to Chryses and ends the plagues (Book 1, 457). A god hears, listens and obeys a mortal, willingly. Apollo has respect for Chryses because of his faithful
In The Iliad of Homer, character qualities are often revealed by how the other characters react and view one another. “Then all the rest of the Achaians cried out in favor that the priest be respected and the shining ransom be taken;” (Book 1, 22-23). Reactions by society often determine if a person’s actions are socially acceptable. Obviously the Greeks approved of Chryses, they accepted him, and then developed a strong respect for him. The people are upset when Agamemnon refused Chryses’ request. They disagree of the judgment from their all-powerful king (Book 1, 20-25). A person does not reach perfection simply because others approve of them. However in The Iliad of Homer, the respect and approval from the Achaian people comes from the same ways in which Chryses achieves perfection. Secondly, Apollo holds Chryses in high regard. “Apollo heard him” (Book 1, 43) and his was angered by his priest was not respected. Apollo continues to rain plagues on the Greeks until his priest receives his daughter with no cost to Chryses. If Apollo did not have high respect for Chryses, he would not grant his prayer, let alone plague an entire kingdom in response. After Chryses receives his daughter, he goes to Apollo and asks him to end the plagues. “Hear me, lord of the sliver bow, … ;if once before you listened to my prayers and did me honor and smote strongly the host of the Achaians, so one more time bring to pass the wish that I pray for (Book 1, 451-455).” This shows mercy in Chryses. He does not want the kingdom to suffer out of personal revenge for capturing his daughter. Chryses is more closely connected to his final purpose of being a priest and father, not a vengeful warrior. Once again, Apollo listens to Chryses and ends the plagues (Book 1, 457). A god hears, listens and obeys a mortal, willingly. Apollo has respect for Chryses because of his faithful