Iliad: Compassion Vs. Glory In Greek Literature

Compassion Versus Glory in Greek Literature Greek civilization is very important in shaping the themes and the characters points of view in Greek literature. In Ancient Greece, each city-states had its own government and views about the world around it. Many states fought over expanding territory and spreading their way of thinking. Some governments acted out of compassion and empathy for its people while others lead by military dictatorship. Both themes are very important to civilization in Ancient Greece and impact the lives of citizens. In Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey both glory and mercy are important topics. Power and glorification of war is a more prominent theme than empathy and compassion because of the heroic ideal, the gods intervention, and the lack of compassion. Fame and glory are the most important elements of the civilization in Ancient Greece. A person who embodies a the best characteristics and values of a civilization is considered to be a model of the heroic ideal. Strong warriors who could beat any enemy they faced and outlast death my …show more content…
The heroic ideal consisted of thong men who were very skillful warriors. They were aiming to outlast death by making a name for themselves on the battle field. The gods favored the best warriors and attempted to help them defeat all of their enemies by inspiring and intervening on behalf of them. Family life and compassion was not a concern for the army men as they consistently denied family life for a chance at achieving fame. While there are moments of compassion show in both novels, they are not popular moments and are not the main focus of the book. The most compassionate of characters will be remembered rather for their intelligence or war ability rather than for their empathy. Glory and fame are the main motivators for characters in Greek writing by helping them outlast death and live a meaningful