Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Critical Review on the Iliad

Good Essays
545 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Critical Review on the Iliad
Nature's Force

Simone Weil, a French writer, explores the depth and motive of why and how we do the things we do. In this critical review, Weil elucidates the role of force in the Iliad. It is exceptionally difficult to put into words the meaning that Weil gives force. When she defines it, she states, "it is that x that turns anybody who is subjected to it into a thing" (331). When I first read this, I did not comprehend what she meant by it. As Weil refers to force, she uses in the context of war and the taking of lives in the Iliad. This force takes away all natural abilities.
Weil explains how all living things respond to stimuli. The muscles in our body have reactions to things that take place in our environment. The force that she is trying to define is one that takes away this ability to respond. In war, a soldier must look past the pain that he is causing in taking another human being's life. Weil suggests that this is as if life is being removed from the body of this soldier, resulting in a breathing corpse. Remorse becomes an overlooked emotion and all sensation vanishes. Does this not constitute a corpse, when all ability to respond to what is going on around him has departed; therefore taking away the very factor that defines a living object?
When examining force by means of killing others, this force does not only have an effect on the victim, but also on the conqueror. "Force is as pitiless to the man who possesses it, or thinks he does, as it is to its victims; the second it crushes, the first it intoxicates" (332). Weil goes on to say that force is not really a retainable thing. All persons, weak and strong, have to at one point in their life relinquish control to force. No one is exempt. She points to Achilles as an example. When he is killing Hector, he is holding the force against Hector to take his life. On the other hand, when Agamemnon purposely degrades Achilles by taking his war prize, Achilles goes to be alone and weep in his humiliation. A force knocks him down as he knocked his opponent Hector down. To show the cycle, we find Agamemnon weeping just a few days later as a result of a force.
Weil points out that the Iliad forms a principle that is later used in the Gospels. "Area is just, and kills those who kill" (333). Here we find the decree that, whoever puts a person to death, shall also be put to death, the same rule used when referring to force.
In conclusion, one can see that the force that turns a man into a thing is the key in a battle. "The wantonness of the conqueror that knows no respect for any creature or thing that is at its mercy or is imagine to be so, the despair of the soldier that drives him on to destruction, the obliteration of the slave of the conquered man, the wholesale slaughter- all of these elements combine in the Iliad to make a picture of uniform horror, of which force is the sole hero" (334).

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Both the Iliad and the Bible have defining moments that have shaped both the Christian and Greek culture in almost similar ways. Two heroes, Jesus and Achilles are quite similar with some minor differences. First off, both Jesus and Achilles’ mothers were mortal, while having a divine connection through their fathers. This meant that they were born more than just man, but also part God. This would make them stand out, especially since both had powers a normal man could not achieve. For example, Jesus had miraculous healing powers and was able turn water into wine, although Achilles did not have those types of powers, his divine power was through strength, Achilles was thought to the mightiest…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Tensions In The Iliad

    • 231 Words
    • 1 Page

    Throughout Book 1 of the Iliad, written by Homer, interpersonal tensions become apparent and, consequently, have broad ramifications. The clearest tension between two characters is most obviously that of Chryses and Agamemnon. Agamemnon, who has stolen Chryses’ daughter as a war prize, refuses to accept Chryses’ ransom for the return of his daughter. Agamemnon is practically insulted by Chryses’ request as Agamemnon sees Cryseis as his rightfully earned prize. Therefore, giving Chryses his daughter would be a stab at Agamemnon’s honor and glory. However, this personal argument greatly affects all the soldiers under Agamemnon’s rule. As a form of justice, Chryses prays to Apollo avenge his loss on the army. As a result of the argument between…

    • 231 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Illiad Questions

    • 1447 Words
    • 6 Pages

    “The Greeks have … last speech began” a defensive start to his statement. Here he does not refer to the specifics of why the quarrel began in the first place, but instead says that the Greeks insult him many times, which is what Achilles had done as well, so it’s technically not his fault. Here Agamemnon’s mood shows how he is on the defensive to start with, as he knows he must apologise but he has many reasons as to why he is not to be blamed. Here he is…

    • 1447 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iliad and Achilles

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hector and Achilles; the proud leaders of the Greeks and the Trojans dominate the battle field throughout The Iliad. Hector wins people's hearts, he is brave, strong, he cares for his family, he protects his people, and he leads his soldiers into battle! Achilles, on the other hand, is a cry baby, he stays in a corner when Agamemnon steals his slave girl and causes countless deaths on the Greek side. How can one argue that Achilles is a better leader when he acts so childish? To provide a base to my argument I will bring in some examples: Caesar: he conquered much of Gaul and Alexander the Great: he defeated the mighty Persian Empire. What do each of these leaders have in common? They won. A good leader will win, because at the end, winning is all that matters.…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iliad: Human Condition

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Homer’s Iliad, the human condition of life and death are being depicted, while we see how people lived their life in Greek culture. In Book 18, the great warrior Akhilleus looses his good friend Patroklos in the midst of battle, and with him he had Akilleus’ shield. Akhilleus’ mother goes to get another shield for her son from the great G/D, Hephaestus, and the Greek icon was born. The shield is made out of, “ durable fine bronze and tin… with silver and… honorable gold,” while it depicts incredible images of the everyday life, while really focusing in on the earth, sea, and sky. Hephaestus includes images of the: celebrations of life and the joy that comes with it, and how injustices go in the world in order to show the positive and negative aspects of life at that time.…

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Godly colossal Greek epic, “The Iliad” constituted by the poet named, Homer, articulate the chronicle of the Brobdingnagian Trojan War. It is swarming with the interventions of the gods enchanting their coveted mortals (humans) and altering the heterogeneous scenes of the Trojan War. In this poem, gods have an assortment of relationships with humans which include love, fornication, and mother or father relationships. Gods interact with mortals in human shapes and stimulate them. Also, gods cognize that every human is eventually destined to die and they anticipate humans to pray to them for every obstacle humans encounter. However, for humans gods are omnipotent, authoritative, dominant, and immortals, who they supplicate to if they have any complications and they look forward to their craved gods to comprehend to their prayers. In addition, there are various kinds of gods in this epic who manoeuvre a very significant theatrical role in this war. Each god aid their preferable human and the justification for it could be because he/she could be the responding god’s son or daughter or the god plainly is in love with him/her. They guide humans in their hindrance work when asked for assistance. Moreover, nearly all individuals in this narrative appear to believe that most or all of their actions are already preordained and it is unfeasible to modify them. There are many culminations in this epic where we perceive that the gods are trying to preserve the fate on its destined path by intervening among humans.…

    • 1642 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Rhetoric Analysis of Iliad

    • 6920 Words
    • 28 Pages

    Thus did the Trojans watch. But Panic, comrade of blood-stained Rout, had taken fast hold of the Achaeans and their princes were all of them in despair. As when the two winds that blow from Thrace- the north and the northwest- spring up of a sudden and rouse the fury of the main- in a moment the dark waves uprear their heads and scatter their sea-wrack in all directions- even thus troubled were the hearts of the Achaeans.…

    • 6920 Words
    • 28 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iliad Theme

    • 311 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The war and other vengeful acts are included in the poem which cause death and horror, but the fundamental cause is a rage which builds up between the characters. In the war between the Trojans and Achaeans, men were killed and their comrades became enraged and wanted revenge. When Achilles lifelong companion Patroclus went into battle for him, Patroclus killed many Trojans causing Hector to become enraged. Hector killed Patroclus which caused Achilles to become so angry and seek revenge. He kills Hector with his spear and says, “Fool! Behind Patroclus a fierce avenger was waiting among the hollow ships . . .”…

    • 311 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The classical hero is a timeless description of human beings all around the world. Not only is it part of some human’s nature; it is used as a source of entertainment for people as well. The classical hero is seen both in the Iliad, as we have discussed, and in today’s world every day and in most cases everywhere. Heroes are seen today in TV shows, novels, movies, sports, in politics, and on the news, etc. As an audience, we love to study the classical hero whether we’re watching something or reading a novel or story about one. It always seems to be exhilarating because it’s part of our nature. The story of the hero motivates individuals to want to be like that person and strive to help others as well, and you see that more and more in today’s world than 20 or 30 years ago. The classical hero is such an amazing thing to study and at any time period, the concepts of the hero in the Iliad influenced the heroes of today’s world in a very impactful way.…

    • 2049 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anybody would agree that before, women had so little power that they were often used as objects. They were taken and given as if they were material belongings. In the Iliad, an epic written during the 8th century BC, women are treated as only property and producing material within the house rather than human beings. This is Homer’s way of saying that the attitude towards women in his time period is wrong and unjustified. While men worship gods and goddesses, they still treat women as lesser beings. Women were put in the story to have a meaning, whether their role is a prize of war or any other small roles. The men in the Iliad would be nothing without the women and absolutely nothing to fight over which is what the entire story is all about.…

    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Authority In The Iliad

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Reflects the authority of Hector, with his armour on as ‘God Like’ because the wearer takes on a more intimidating, authoritative persona in wearing armour and a helmet which shines…

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Gilgamesh and The Iliad have both impacted a plethora of generations, the stories even conforming to today’s dynamic atmosphere and allowing individuals to still relate to heart aching emotions portrayed within both epics. Fragile yet emotional, the topic of friendship intertwines these epics into the impassioned worlds they create, allowing the reader too thoroughly dissolve the rather enigmatic emotions flared out by both Gilgamesh and Achilles. The account of these characters friendships undermine the simplistic views the public may have on it today. The various time periods allow for an in depth look at how different personas can lead to different versions of friendships and the outcomes of them after hardship. Through these crucial characters…

    • 1603 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Polonius, ‘What do you read my Lord?' Hamlet, ‘Words, words, words.'" -Shakespeare, Hamlet, II, ii, 193-4. Reading, writing, speaking, these are the things that define our humanity. Without words or the ability of speech we would once again be equal to the animals we preside over. In the scheme of time we have perfected this human ability above all else; we teach it, correct it, and embellish it to no end. Even so stories may be told in many different ways, simply by altering the way we write. The Iliad is written as an original epic written in Greek, by Homer, which has been translated many times over by English novelists so that we too can enjoy this riveting tale of Achilles' rage. Though translating the book is…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The enduring and growing popularity of Homer's Iliad offers the most persuasive testimony of all that the vision of life celebrated in the poem still reaches deeply into the human imagination, spanning more than two thousand five hundred years. Cultures since Homer's time have constructed social and personal lives on systems of meaning very different from the harsh demands of the warrior code, but the continuing power of the work reveals just how strongly the significance of that ancient way of living still speaks to the human imagination. Over the years, some scholars and critics have described the Iliad as the first piece of anti-war literature. This is true in some respects, though ultimately misleading. It is true in that the Iliad portrays war in a completely unvarnished way. Its battle scenes are disgusting and brutal. The Iliad leaves little doubt that the capture of Troy will result in widespread murder, theft, and the enslavement of its women and children. At the same time, however, it portrays war as an almost inevitable part of human life. Whereas modern day is not that different from the Iliad due to the battle scenes being disgusting and brutal but different in the aspects of theft and enslavement o women and children.…

    • 1761 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Between the novel "The Iliad" by Homer and the movie "Troy" directed by Wolfgang Peterson, there were mostly great similarities, yet there were also some strong differences. Although most of the movie was on point according to the storyline and dialogues of the characters, there were still some major differences among the two. If I was ever to make my own version of the Iliad into a movie, this would be what I would change; I would make the movie more related to the novel. In the following I will explain how the move was similar and different to the novel as well as how I would have made my version of the movie more according to the novel.…

    • 730 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays