Themes: Betrayal
Betrayal is intricately connected to anger and hatred in the Iliad. Achilles experiences a deep sense of betrayal when Agamemnon publicly shames him in front of the entire army. In book 3, Pandarus disrupts the truce and enrages the Achaians by shooting and injuring Menelaus. Helen betrays her husband, Menelaus, by eloping with Paris, only to later betray Paris by returning to Menelaus after years of devastating conflict. Paris also breaches the sacred guest-host duties by taking Helen to Troy.
Expert Q&A
Did Helen run off with Paris voluntarily or was she abducted?
In the mythological context, Helen's departure with Paris is often seen as voluntary due to the influence of Aphrodite, who promised Helen to Paris as a reward. While The Iliad does not explicitly state whether Helen went willingly, later interpretations often portray her as complicit. However, given the divine intervention by Aphrodite, Helen's agency in the matter is questionable, suggesting she had little choice in her involvement with Paris.
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