A Change in Iliad

Spartans, just like what the above says.

According to my site reference Wikipedia, The Iliad by Homer is an Epic poem and attributed to himself. As our English teacher said, The Iliad starts somewhere in the middle and therefore it is a “Medias Res”. The story of the epic is all about the Trojan War. The story develops into tides of battle that is in favor of either the Trojan or Achaeans at some point. Though somehow boring, this book somewhat makes me want to read other great epics. I just don’t know why.

Though I hate gory stories, I will not change that thing in Iliad. What I will change in Iliad are the parts where in the gods of Mt. Olympus would interfere and change tides of battle. Logically, what I will change is the begging of Thetis to Zeus that let her son be honored. Why? Because of what she asked for, I cannot therefore determine if which among the two armies is greater than the other. And because, too, of what she did, the Trojan did lost. Sorry because I am in favor of the Trojans, quite ironic of the favoring of gods thing.

Olympian Gods

Now knowing what I intend to change, it is now my turn to write on the story of mine. Knowing that Briseis is now with Agamemnon, Thetis would pacify first Achilles and begging him to keep these things, his hatred and hurt, to his heart for in quite sometime the greedy Agamemnon will realize his mistake soon enough. Thetis, upon reaching Mt. Olympus after Zeus’s trip, sees Zeus and begs for his son to be glad by sending a forewarning to Agamemnon that he shall not be victorious if Achilles is not there. Zeus then bows his head and immediately, during the night, he sends a dream about the warning. Fearing failure, Agamemnon, on the next day, makes his way through his army and calls for Oddyseus. He asks him to tell Achilles that his beloved Briseis is to be brought back to him so as other offers that is for compensation for what he did. Then when it is time for the first battle, Achilles would not join first for awhile and then the battle soon starts. At first, the Trojans are winning and the Achaeans are drove away towards their ships. Achilles, seeing this, can not think of anything else but to help. Then the battle continues on and on. Oh by the way, the gods didn’t interfere with any battle for they are just happily looking down below and seeing things though it hurts for some gods who are in favor on either side.

Thetis

How will this affect the story? The Trojans, though quite lesser in strength, are victorious in defending their home. The Achaeans, the sore losers, goes home but a truce is suggested by Alexandros. Though a lot of men have died on both armies, they think that this war is a waste of time and some kind of joke. In their truce, Alexandros gives Helen back to Menelaos and there was some king of relationship between the two sides. They help each other to restore back what was lost and the Trojans prays for the safe voyage of the Achaeans. This war teaches them certain lessons that is useful and needed if a town wants to prosper, the value of fidelity, integrity and acceptance.

Patroclos: A Noble Warrior and Comrade Indeed!



Patroclos with Achilles on the Myrmidon's ship



Patroclos, a dear friend of Achilles, is indeed a noble comrade and warrior. In the sixteenth chapter of the book Iliad, his actions are quite reckless yet are considered both honorable and great, true sample of a warrior-like trait that is to be admired by a lot. He cares a lot for the Achaean army even though his life is at stake. It is already predicted by Zeus that Patroclos is to be slain by Hector. Still in his short term of leading the Myrmidons towards their goal, driving away the Trojans, he did his best to kill good men of the Trojan army and encouraging the Myrmidons to fight well for the Achaeans sake.



Prince Hector, the one who killed Patroclos

Patroclos is noble as a warrior and as a comrade for what he did to help drive back the Trojans. He is indeed a great warrior even though his life in battle is kind of short, did not even lasted for a day. His strength is good indeed. He fought with all of his might and has not even thought of retreating but he did after Apollo warns him to go back. There are different reasons why I consider him a noble man:

He is noble for his will to save the Achaeans and their ships. In Patroclos’s desperation to save the Achaeans, he pleas to Achilles that he should be out there and helping the Achaeans gain the favor of the tide. Achilles rejects so but he then asks him if he can lead the Myrmidons to fight. Just reading this in the sixteenth chapter makes us know that indeed Patroclos is noble for his willingness to fight though he knows the dangers of war. He risks his life for the sake of many. Achilles could have done this instead of Patroclos to spare him of his death.

Death of Patroclus

He is noble for his strength. I absolutely know nothing of his strength for I have not read anything about him yet. But as what I have read, he is strong indeed for he sent enemies of high rank down to the ground. He did well in driving away enemies. The Achaeans could have been defeated at once not for his presence that staggered a lot of enemies and make them tremble and retreat, of course with the help of Zeus.

He is noble for his words of encouragement. Some of the warriors have their hearts sink as the battle continues. With his words of spirit giving, some have their will up again and they are ready to fight. As if they can survive without the help of the noble Patroclos.

To end, Patroclos is noble, honorable, and great just like what I described Menelaos is. He has the courage to fight at all cost. He has the words of inspiration to do all the best people can. He has strength that is admirable to end the continuous onslaught of the Trojan army. He is a man that has given hope to the Achaeans. The End.

"Did I Just Do Something Wrong???"



"Do you think that what Achilles did is approprite or not?"



Achilles, preparing for the battle



Achilles is indeed strong but is rather lesser in heart and mind, well that is for me. If to ask me if what he did is somewhat appropriate, well I must say that the answer somewhat depends or varies. I can tell that what he did in Chapter 9 of “Iliad” is something that is quite right at first but on the latter part it is quite inappropriate. Let me further expand.

In my opinion, it is quite proper for him to reject that offer of Agamemnon which is told by Odysseus. Come to think of it, it is not that for compensation the offer is but we can think of it as somewhat a bribe for him to come back and fight for Agamemnon. But it may be otherwise, thinking of it as compensation rather than a bribe. The concept will be different for others for we have different points of view but that is my opinion. I concluded it for if it is for compensation, then no other service shall be rendered by Achilles and it is quite obvious that they want Achilles badly that they resulted to offering him things and bringing him to battle, therefore asking for his service.

It is then on the latter part of their conversation that what he did is very inappropriate. How can I say so? If we are to read Chapter 9 of the “Iliad”, we read that Achilles rejects the offer but then he is being unreasonable and proud. I am not contradicting my first opinion, besides I’m saying that it is his right to reject the offer. He did the following which are unsuitable for someone respectable like him:

Odysseus, told Achilles Agamemnon's offer

He is too proud, arrogant. He is arrogant for he thinks that everyone that he did good needs to do thanks to him. Well that is not that heavy for gratitude but isn’t being honored by every man and being well known a form of gratitude, even greater! Isn’t that more of thanks? Doesn’t he think of that?

He is too unreasonable. Like what we just discussed, if there are two choices let us choose for the better of many. Why? For that good we’ve done for many benefits us. Now he is unreasonable for he compares being not with war and being not with war is equal, the same. He is wrong! He has honor if he dies there! He can change the fate of other people! He could have saved others who are dead if he was there. What then does he live for, for himself? It will be better to live for others.

He is too impossible. He demands for something impossible just for him to go to battle. He asked for treasure that is more than the number of sand, greater than that of Thebes and times more than what Agamemnon offers. He would like to marry a woman far beautiful than Aphrodite. That is quite impossible, isn’t it? It seems that he is mocking Agamemnon with his words. Maybe it is better for him to shut up and just plainly reject the offer but in a polite manner. Things will be better that way. Besides, he should let his temper and madness over Agamemnon be gone and heed the plea of his friends. It is not honor for he should fight, it is for the fate of people involved in this war.

Between Paris and Menelaus, who do you consider as a nobler/greater/more honorable man?



Menelaus with Agamemnon



“The Iliad” by Homer starts off somewhere between the middle of the Trojan War. The story would soon be developed with introduction of different characters and gods and goddesses that intervene and take sides on either Troy or Sparta. Soon enough, Paris, introduced as Alexandros, of Troy and Menelaus of Sparta met. They both were ready for war and give what it takes to have Helen and her wealth. Still, who is better of the two: Is it Paris of Troy or is it Menelaus of Sparta?

Paris, Prince of Troy

Choosing between the two, I think Menelaus deserves to be honored more and be greater, far greater, than Paris. There are certain reasons why I choose Menelaus and these are the following reasons:

Choosing between the two, I think Menelaus deserves to be honored more and be greater, far greater, than Paris. There are certain reasons why I choose Menelaus and these are the following reasons:

First of all, Menelaus is nobler than Paris. Based on the third book of the Iliad, it indirectly implies that Helen is the real wife of Menelaus. It seems to be that Paris is the cause of all this chaos. If Paris is nobler than Menelaus then Paris shouldn’t and shouldn’t have taken a wife of another man even if she is a prize or some sort of it. To be noble means to be decent, it wasn’t decent of him to covet one’s wife.

Second, Menelaus is greater than Paris in terms of strength. It can be clearly seen on the third book that Paris is really a no-good or can’t stand against the strength of Menelaus. Menelaus alone, meaning without help of gods, can defeat Paris but Aphrodite intervenes and saves Paris from his sure death. Saying this, Paris needs the help of gods and goddesses for victor. And adding to that, he is defeated even if a goddess is in his side.

Lastly, Menelaus is more honorable, admirable indeed, than Paris. He wants to have his wife back even though she is a disgrace now. He does not look at her that way. He does everything to get what really was his but I am not implying that Helen is an object, just a material I am just stating that Helen is married to Menelaus already, he to her and her to he.  Next thing is this, after Paris escaped with the help of Aphrodite, Agamemnon still wants to battle even thought he was shot by Pandaros, one of the Trojans. He wasn’t weak at heart like what happened Paris when he first sees Menelaus. There are a lot more comparisons to be observed in the other books.

Noynoy Aquino with Corazon Aquino's picture on his back

I can compare Menelaus to our current President Noynoy Aquino. Why? He is honorable, great, and noble in many aspects. He is not like Menelaus when it comes to their will for he thinks not of himself but of the betterment of the people of the Philippines. He does what he thinks is good for the people and does all that he can to provide us a better future, a better Philippines. 

That’s all that I can say since that’s what I think and I exactly have 500 words.