Battles in The Odyssey

The battle scenes described by Homer in The Odyssey reflect the Greek Culture of the time. Especially in Sparta, boys were trained at a young age to fight and become the best military men they could be. Being prepared for battle meant everything to them. By reading of battles in The Odyssey it is evident that war was what consumed the thoughts of the Greeks. Those who did not experience battle for themselves were probably intrigued by thre reading of it. The grusome details were a reality to those during the time and reading it did not phase them. It was interesting and exciting.

Homer is not to detailed in his writing about the battles. Such grusome details were entertaining and exciting and appealed to those during that time and still do to most readers today. Despite seeming discusting and unneccesary to some, this disturbing detail was the concept of the tales of the time period. War was happening all around the Greeks and reading about it was appealing.

I do not think that the narrative addresses brutality necessarily as something to celebrate. Instead I think it approaches it by saying that it is unavoidable and therefore might as well discussed. Homer adds the details making it seem like it is completely fact. The details are necessary to The Odyssey for without them a story of war could not be told. What is a war story without grotesque details of the battle scenes?

Odysseus in The Odyssey

In book 9 of The Osyssey Odysseus demonstrates cunning behavior when he arrives to the land of Cyclopes. When trapped in the cave of Polyphemus, Odysseus has almost no other choice than to deceive Polyphemus in order to escape. Polyphemus killed two of Odysseus’ men right upon his arrival and Odysseus needed a witty plan of escape. Odysseus gave wine to Polyphemus in order to get him drunk and while drunk he asks Odysseus’ name. Odysseus responds that his name is “nobody”. Then while Polyphemus was asleep the men stabbed through his eyes with a stake. When the other Cyclops heard his screams they asked what was wrong and he responded, “Nobody’s killing me now”. Polyphemus had been tricked and when morning came Odysseeus and his men escaped by clinging to the ribs of the rams, unseen by Polyphemus.

Although the lies that Odysseus tells in order to escape may seem to speak negatively on his character the slyness should be somewhat praised. The tricks that Odysseus thought of were impressive in the fact that they were creative. One must have quite a talent and imagination to think of such witty ideas. He was also not only trying to save his own life, but his men’s also. This was a brave and thoughtful thing to do in a way.

I do not think that Odysseus’ deceiving ways make him any less of a hero. There was hardly another option for Odysseus to take in the escape of him and his men. Although not so much the stardard heroic story where one brave man risks his own life to save the others, he does save them none of the less. Odysseus could have taken other means and completely killed Polyphemus but he did not. Odysseus used another impressive, heroic plan.

Achilles

In the beginning of the readings we find that Achilles is seeking revenge for the killing of his friend Patroclus. Although it seems wrong of Achilles to kill Hector, his vengeance shows Achilles love and loyalty to Patroclus. Achilles feels that he will do whatever it takes to get the revenge he feels he deserves. He chases Hector until Athena tricks Hector and convinces him to face Achilles. Before fighting, Hector asks that Achilles will agree that depending on who wins he will not dishonor the other man’s corpse. Achilles refuses and once Hector is stabbed he speaks out pleading one last time that Achilles would give his body back to his parents. Achilles responds saying, “I wish my stomach would let me cut off your flesh in strips and eat it raw for what you’ve done to me. There is no one and no way to keep the dogs off your head…”. Achilles drags Hector’s body along the trails behind his chariot. Once Priam, Hector’s father, goes to beg for his son’s corpse, Achilles does change his mind (with the help of Zeus) and he releases Hector to his father so that he can have a proper burial.

Irony in The Iliad

In The Iliad, Homer uses irony and prophecy to stir up the emotions of his reader. Particularly Homer uses dramatic irony for the purpose of causing the reader to become sympathetic toward the characters. Dramatic irony is used so that the reader is aware of something that the character is not. During the scene where Achilles is in a never ending chase after Hector, Zeus and Athena converse allowing only the reader to know the fate of the two men. The reader is aware that Athena has tricked Hector into fighting Achilles by pretending to be his brother, Diephobus. When Achilles first misses Hector, Hector believes that the gods are on his side as they once were and he proclaims it to Achilles. However, the reader already knows that soon Hector will be the one who is killed. Such irony intrigues a reader and causes him to fear for Hector. Once Hector sadly realizes he has been tricked by Athena he says, “Death is coming close and there is no escape, Zeus and Apollo must have chosen this long ago, even though they used to be on my side”. Homer is successful in the use of irony to keep his reader engaged in the battles in The Iliad.