Iliad Group

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halfpint
halfpint
Student

In "The Iliad," what are the characters' attitude toward the war ?

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Posted by halfpint on Saturday February 10, 2007 at 9:51 AM and tagged with characters, iliad, themes, war.

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  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    A great question, and a complex one. The most simply answer is, it depends on who you're referring to and when in the poem.
    To develop that a bit more, the classical Greeks put heavy emphasis on honor. They therefore saw the war as an opportunity to gain honor. They also valued kin relationships and duty; going to war was driven by both. Finally, because the Greeks thought that the gods were directly engaged in human affairs at moments of great importance, they thought the war was in part fated to happen. They would therefore be resigned. However, when the poem opens, the attitude is more complicated. Achilles, for example, clearly thinks that the war is far less important than his personal honor; that's why he withdraws and pouts.
    The great Trojan Hector (or Hektor) remains duty bound throughout, and stays committed to the war even when it is clear he will be defeated. That's why his wife Andromache pleads with him not to go. She's lost too many family members, and considers her personal love more important than duty. For Cassandra, the war was inevitable, because she could foresee the future. And it was a tragedy, because she knew the future but none believed her.
    Greg

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/iliad/
    http://www.enotes.com/iliad/legend-trojan-war
    http://www.enotes.com/iliad/themes

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    Posted by gbeatty on Saturday February 10, 2007 at 11:20 AM

  2. mjush
    mjush Teacher
    College - Senior

    I'm not sure you can easily state an attitude of war across the board. Each character would be different. There are the gods who take sides and see this more like a game. The war to them is almost entertainment and a cause of heated debate and sides to be taken.

     For the charatcter at home, such as Hector's wife, it is something to fear because loss means she loses her husband and likely her son will be killed and she will be taken by one of the men who are victorious.

    For others, war is a way to gain honor and respect. Some gain treasures. Others are just pawns in the war and just participate because they are supposed to.


     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/iliad/
    http://www.enotes.com/iliad/legend-trojan-war
    http://www.enotes.com/iliad/themes

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    Posted by mjush on Monday September 22, 2008 at 11:40 PM