Agency from the gods’ perspective
Gods are believed to have plenary agency however, this is not the case. This is shown in an argument that Zeus and Hera have over the destruction of several cities of the mortal world (4.35-85). Their mismatch, therefore leads us to question the scope of the agency that god’s posses, and what they have control over. Agency is found in two different forms: the power to control events and the control of one’s actions. Zeus, the most powerful god in Olympus, has agency through his power. He has a special set of abilities that are unique to him when it comes to controlling the forces surrounding him, thus he displays omnipotent agency. However, Hera (a god) displays humanlike agency. She has to think about her …show more content…
Zeus can intervene in the Trojan War, whenever he desires as he is the most powerful god. Zeus’ strength is reflected when Hera states “You are far stronger than I. Still, you must not make my labor come to nothing. I am a god too” (4.66-8). Hera is saying that she can’t prevent Zeus from destroying her beloved cities, but overpowering her will solve nothing. Consequently, Zeus limits the quality of the agency that Hera attains, since she is weaker than Zeus (the most powerful god) and is also his wife. This is portrayed when Hera says “since I am your consort and you in turn rule all the immortal gods” (4.71-2). Mortals have limited agency for many reasons, one of them is the power hierarchy. In humanity, the ones in power command the weaker and this is just what Hera experienced under the control of Zeus, but she’s a god. Hera, however, is remarkably wise, smart, cunning with her words and has an ethereal beauty. First, Hera sweet talks, Zeus by stating “So, come let us yield to each other now on this one point, I to you and you to me” (4.73-4). Here Hera begins to get in Zeus’ head with her savvy by telling him that they should compromise as she is in a lower standing position than her husband (4.66-72). Then once she has convinced Zeus, she asks him to “order Athena down to battle now” (4.76).Hera has humanlike agency because she has to convince Zeus to order Athena down first as …show more content…
Agency is both the power to control events and the control of one’s actions. Some people may wrongly think that with the power that Hera and Zeus have because are gods that they might have unparalleled agency, especially Zeus. However, this is sadly mistaken as they don’t have the power to control events the way a deity should, therefore limiting the agency of the gods to being humanlike. This is shown in a confrontation between Zeus and Hera over the destruction of three human cities (4.35-85). Zeus, in most people would be the god that possesses the greatest agency, since he is the god with the highest power. However, he is so impulsive and driven by his rage that he is controlled by his emotions. Thus, his emotional instability sometimes enables him to take horrible decisions, just like a human. Finally, Hera also obtains humanlike agency, but in a way has more control than Zeus. She can deliberate and uses her intellect to get her ways, which are specific characteristics of a human mortal, but not a
Gods are believed to have plenary agency however, this is not the case. This is shown in an argument that Zeus and Hera have over the destruction of several cities of the mortal world (4.35-85). Their mismatch, therefore leads us to question the scope of the agency that god’s posses, and what they have control over. Agency is found in two different forms: the power to control events and the control of one’s actions. Zeus, the most powerful god in Olympus, has agency through his power. He has a special set of abilities that are unique to him when it comes to controlling the forces surrounding him, thus he displays omnipotent agency. However, Hera (a god) displays humanlike agency. She has to think about her …show more content…
Zeus can intervene in the Trojan War, whenever he desires as he is the most powerful god. Zeus’ strength is reflected when Hera states “You are far stronger than I. Still, you must not make my labor come to nothing. I am a god too” (4.66-8). Hera is saying that she can’t prevent Zeus from destroying her beloved cities, but overpowering her will solve nothing. Consequently, Zeus limits the quality of the agency that Hera attains, since she is weaker than Zeus (the most powerful god) and is also his wife. This is portrayed when Hera says “since I am your consort and you in turn rule all the immortal gods” (4.71-2). Mortals have limited agency for many reasons, one of them is the power hierarchy. In humanity, the ones in power command the weaker and this is just what Hera experienced under the control of Zeus, but she’s a god. Hera, however, is remarkably wise, smart, cunning with her words and has an ethereal beauty. First, Hera sweet talks, Zeus by stating “So, come let us yield to each other now on this one point, I to you and you to me” (4.73-4). Here Hera begins to get in Zeus’ head with her savvy by telling him that they should compromise as she is in a lower standing position than her husband (4.66-72). Then once she has convinced Zeus, she asks him to “order Athena down to battle now” (4.76).Hera has humanlike agency because she has to convince Zeus to order Athena down first as …show more content…
Agency is both the power to control events and the control of one’s actions. Some people may wrongly think that with the power that Hera and Zeus have because are gods that they might have unparalleled agency, especially Zeus. However, this is sadly mistaken as they don’t have the power to control events the way a deity should, therefore limiting the agency of the gods to being humanlike. This is shown in a confrontation between Zeus and Hera over the destruction of three human cities (4.35-85). Zeus, in most people would be the god that possesses the greatest agency, since he is the god with the highest power. However, he is so impulsive and driven by his rage that he is controlled by his emotions. Thus, his emotional instability sometimes enables him to take horrible decisions, just like a human. Finally, Hera also obtains humanlike agency, but in a way has more control than Zeus. She can deliberate and uses her intellect to get her ways, which are specific characteristics of a human mortal, but not a