Role Of Fate In The Iliad

Improved Essays
“You often meet your fate on a road you take to avoid it” (French Proverb). Fate is an inevitable occurrence, we all have one. We all make decisions that eventually affect they way future things pan out. It is no different in a literary sense, in The Iliad you have a Trojan soldier named Hector who did not want to fight in the Trojan war. Hector decides to fight, but only for honor. “I have learned to be one of the best, to fight in Troy 's first ranks, defending my father 's honor and my own” (6. 466-469). Hector 's choice to fight in the Trojan war, even though he was opposed to it, ultimately leads to his death. Achilles is a soldier in the Trojan war who is vengeful and is looking to win for himself. In Genesis chapter four, Cain kills his brother Abel. Cain felt as if he was rejected by God, that his offering was not good enough, Cain becomes angry. God then asks “Why are you incensed and why has your face fallen? For whether you offer well or whether you do not, at the tent flap sin crouches and it is longing but you will overrule it” (Genesis 4). Cain then kills his brother Abel, he con-caved to the sin awaiting for him then eventually overcame it. God punished Cain by cursing him, but Cain prospered in different ways. Hector kills …show more content…
You can see this lethal dose of emotions in both The Iliad and Genesis, these two stories are similar because they both exemplify humans emotional nature, and the results of rage when the fear of losing strikes. In The Iliad you vividly see the hatred and emotional nature of Achilles, he is fighting the Trojan war to win, and then his friend is killed in battle. He then experiences hatred towards Hector. Achilles mindset was warped and full of anger because he was grieving over the loss of his friend. Achilles wanted to make Hector and any body that loved Hector suffer the same way he did. Achilles wanted go avenge

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    It can be in favor of the person, or it can be against them. People say that fate happens for a reason and most likely cannot be changed. Though some say that through specific actions it can be altered. In the movie, Inglourious Basterds, the entire plot is secretly centered around fate, and the actions that can affect the outcomes. It molds the story into what it is.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cain was just a farmer, whereas Abel was a herdsman and when it came down to sacrifices, Abel was able to offer his fattiest and most succulent animal. Whereas Cain was only able to offer some of his crops. The Lord favored Abel 's sacrifice over Cain’s, and this made Cain very jealous of his brother. Eventually, what ended up happening was that Cain went and killed his brother,…

    • 1036 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achilles is now in possession of the new armor that has been forged for him. Agamemnon and Achilles reconcile with each other at the pre-battle meeting that Achilles called. Before heading into battle, he allows his armies to eat. Achilles refuses to eat anything, since he has not yet slain Hector, but eventually has his stomach filled by Athena. This occurs after he sits near Patroclus reminiscing.…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achilles A Hero Essay

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Achilles is frequently referred to as one of the greatest heros in Homeric culture, but is he the hero we are led to believe he is? It is easy to regard Achilles as a hero when he is essentially invincible, however don't confuse unrestrained power with heroism. Even though his skill and prowess on the battlefield is second to none, he fails to be a hero because of his unrestrained recklessness, barbaric nature, absence of self control, and his narcissistic and dishonorable actions. Although Achilles is referred to as one of the greatest heros in Homeric culture, he lacks vital characteristics of a hero. Such as restraint, selflessness, and righteousness.…

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Genesis, Cain resents his brother Abel because of the favor he has received with God. Because of his jealousy, Cain lures Abel out into the field and “[w]hen they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him” (Gen. 4.8). In the Book of Genesis, the animosity Cain has for his brother Abel arises out of envy towards him. The Iroquois use the right-handed and left-handed twins to demonstrate how their gods bring order and balance to the world through their opposition. Genesis, however, focuses on how Adam and Eve’s original violation of God’s trust compound with each generation, even to the point of murder because of…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Greeks believed that ones fate was predetermined and that it could not be avoided, one can only be judged for how they acted on the way towards meeting their fate. The concept of individuals meeting their fate is extremely prevalent in the great epic The Odyssey. This epic is one in which human lives are continuously manipulated by the gods, the one thing that the gods cannot do though is alter the individuals fate. In The Odyssey, fate governs the relationship between the central character Odysseus and the goddess of wisdom Athena. Though Athena cannot alter Odysseus’ fate her actions helps make his fate come to fruition.…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Loyalty manifests itself in abiding by a specific, moral code of conduct of a society, a group, or relationship. Loyalty also means having the moral strength to be true to a person or an ideal. Thousands of years ago the ancient Greeks held fast and true to their beliefs and to the cast of characters that populated their pantheon of human-like gods. Homer’s Iliad, an epic poem of the Trojan War, shows the Greeks’ value of loyalty to their gods, their military, and to their family.…

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    In the epic poem, the Iliad written by Homer, several characters taking part in the warfare between the Achaeans and the Trojans are portrayed as embodying the heroic code of courage, physical strength, leadership, arete of value of honour, and the acceptance of fate. The heroic code is illustrated by the actions of the Trojan prince, Hector and the Achaeans strongest warrior, Achilles. Both of these characters display the Greek’s image of a hero, and can also let the reader discern what the society admires, looks up to and aspires to in its heroes. There are also characters who fail to be heroic, such as the Trojan “vivid and beautiful” prince, Paris. These characters in the Iliad illustrate the qualities that Ancient Greek society values.…

    • 1570 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kleos is a term often used in ancient greek epics that can be translated now to “renown”, or “glory”. Kleos, or glory, is an encompassing theme within Homer’s epic the Iliad, it means the achievement of one’s immortal fame. It is a glory that lives on past the expiry of ones mortal life and is often the driving force behind many attitudes and actions of the central characters within the Iliad. This is especially prominent in the case of Hector and Achilles, Both characters are considered hero’s in their own right and are looked up to by the greeks. They both are part of the war that is the driving source of plot within the Iliad, where they make decisions, sometimes against rational judgment, in honour of achieving their Kleos.…

    • 1122 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Homer’s Iliad, it is debateable whether or not Achilles is responsible for his own fate, linked to his level of free choice. Achilles’ fate in the Iliad ends up with him killing Hector and then later dying young with glory as opposed to a long, inconspicuous life. Upon examining Achilles’ choices in the Iliad, it is evident that Achilles play a significant role in deciding his own fate, even if he is not aware of it. This can be shown by looking at one of the major choices Achilles makes, choosing not to fight the Trojans, but also staying Troy.…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the Iliad, there is a young soldier named Achilles. Achilles was a Greek warrior who after getting his prize of honor taken from him decided to leave the Greek army to defend for themselves. This decision led to his best friend Patroclus to be slain by the hands of a Trojan warrior Hector. In the Iliad Antilochus informs Achilles. As said in the Iliad “A mist of black grief enveloped Achilles” ( Iliad book XVIII, 159, 23).…

    • 1780 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “A Hero and a Coward” The period in which the events in The Iliad took place were different than the times of today. Back then, the Greeks and Romans most important characteristic of life was to be a remembered hero. In the present day, this concept would be thought of as irrational or egotistical.…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In The Iliad by Homer, the fate of the mortals is affected by the god’s interference in the war. Homer does not make it clear whether man or gods are in control of fate. The mortals’ decisions may affect their fate,but on the other hand, the gods change the fate of the war by giving bits of wisdom to the mortals to make decisions and help to protect people who are in danger. Though mortals can make decisions that alter fate, the gods uphold the idea that fate is inevitable in a mortal 's life and even though the immortals realize that each mortal has a specific fate, they still intervene in the battle to help certain people by sending muses and inspirations and protecting mortals from dying. The rest of fate is dependent on human free will…

    • 1424 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Homer’s The Iliad, Achilles portrays the concept of a devastating hero. Throughout many of his experiences in the Trojan War, his heroic qualities are shown through his actions. Similar to Achilles, in Plato’s The Trial and Death of Socrates, Socrates shows plenty of heroic characteristics. Through his trial and unfortunate death, Socrates expresses that his commitment to his society is genuine and real.…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the Iliad, we see two great men, Achilles and Hector. The reader is introduced to their stories, and the greater story that their lives are a part of. This book is dedicated to the clashes between the Trojans and the Achaeans, and all the details behind the big picture. It has been nine years since the Trojan War, and a new fight has begun over a woman, once again. Emotions are flying high, and two proposed heroes arise.…

    • 1286 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays