After Effects Of War In The Iliad
In the Iliad, the author, Homer, displays how war can affect individuals physically and mentally. This results in the individuals becoming more barbaric and hindering their true identities. Throughout the Iliad, the author shows the effects of war on specific characters.
In the book, Homer shows how war can cause individuals to become more barbaric. An example of this would be the after-effects of Hector’s death when Achilles kills him. After his death, the greeks did the following, “Not a man came forward who did not stab his body, glancing toward a comrade, laughing: ‘Ah look here- how much softer he is to handle now, this Hector’” (22.438-440). In this quote, Homer displays conflict among the Trojans and the Greeks. He does this by showing the hatred of the …show more content…
Greeks when they brutally mess up Hector’s corpse. Furthermore, the quote states how “not a man came forward who did not stab his body” to show that the Greeks hated Hector. Additionally, in the last part of the quote, “look here- how much softer he is to handle now”, the Greeks humiliates Hector and shows him no respect by calling him “soft” which demonstrates that war can make people barbaric. Another example of the effects of war is when Achilles toys with Hector’s corpse. This can be seen in the text where it states, “Lash the corpse of Hector behind the car for dragging and haul him three times round the dead Patroclus’ tomb, and then he’d rest again in his tents and leave the body sprawled face down in the dust” (24.18-21). In this quote, the author uses diction such as “lash”, “dragging”, “leave” and “haul” to show the resentment and barbarism of Achilles to Hector. Additionally, the Page 2 author uses sight imagery to show us the effects of war. In this line, we can see that Achilles is still grieving for his lost friend and even after vengeance, he can’t get over it. As a result, he decides to disrespect Hector’s corpse which can be seen in the quote above. Achilles disrespects Hector when he “leaves the body sprawled face down in the dust” and instead of just leaving the body alone he decides to drag it around his friend’s grave three times. He was still affected by his friend’s death and took his emotions out on Hector’s body, Overall, this exemplifies that war has the ability to bring out the barbaric side of people.
Homer also demonstrates that war does not only bring the barbaric side out of people, but it can also hinder one’s true self.
For instance, in the fight between Idomeneus and Erymas, Idomeneus defeats Erymas using his spear and “raking through; up under the brain to split his glistening skull” (16.408-410). In this quote, Homer uses sight imagery to show the brutal effects of war on both individuals. Idomeneus kills Erymas, but in doing so, he hindered his true self. This can be seen when the author uses words such as “raking” and “split” to show the actions that Idomeneus were performing. Idomeneus could have ended Erymas’ life quickly but instead, he decided to stick his sword into his head and split it so that he would receive a painful death. This shows that war can make people “lose” their selves. Another example that exemplifies war hindering an individual’s identity is when, “ So now they went at the Argives, out for blood… If only we could seize his body, mutilate him, shame him” (16.647-656). In this quote, Homer displays the conflict among the Greeks and the Trojans. War blinded/hindered both groups’ true nature to the extent that they only want each other’s blood. The author uses words such
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“mutilate”, “shame” and “seize” to demonstrate what both sides want to do to each other. Thus, this shows that war has the ability to hinder an individual’s true self.
In conclusion, throughout the book, Homer exemplifies the consequences that war have on individuals. He displayed that war has the ability to bring out the barbarism out of people. Additionally, it can change people mentally and physically. Furthermore, it has the ability to hinder individuals from their true nature. This exemplifies that no matter the cause and reason, war is always an awful thing that comes with consequences.
In the book, Homer shows how war can cause individuals to become more barbaric. An example of this would be the after-effects of Hector’s death when Achilles kills him. After his death, the greeks did the following, “Not a man came forward who did not stab his body, glancing toward a comrade, laughing: ‘Ah look here- how much softer he is to handle now, this Hector’” (22.438-440). In this quote, Homer displays conflict among the Trojans and the Greeks. He does this by showing the hatred of the …show more content…
Greeks when they brutally mess up Hector’s corpse. Furthermore, the quote states how “not a man came forward who did not stab his body” to show that the Greeks hated Hector. Additionally, in the last part of the quote, “look here- how much softer he is to handle now”, the Greeks humiliates Hector and shows him no respect by calling him “soft” which demonstrates that war can make people barbaric. Another example of the effects of war is when Achilles toys with Hector’s corpse. This can be seen in the text where it states, “Lash the corpse of Hector behind the car for dragging and haul him three times round the dead Patroclus’ tomb, and then he’d rest again in his tents and leave the body sprawled face down in the dust” (24.18-21). In this quote, the author uses diction such as “lash”, “dragging”, “leave” and “haul” to show the resentment and barbarism of Achilles to Hector. Additionally, the Page 2 author uses sight imagery to show us the effects of war. In this line, we can see that Achilles is still grieving for his lost friend and even after vengeance, he can’t get over it. As a result, he decides to disrespect Hector’s corpse which can be seen in the quote above. Achilles disrespects Hector when he “leaves the body sprawled face down in the dust” and instead of just leaving the body alone he decides to drag it around his friend’s grave three times. He was still affected by his friend’s death and took his emotions out on Hector’s body, Overall, this exemplifies that war has the ability to bring out the barbaric side of people.
Homer also demonstrates that war does not only bring the barbaric side out of people, but it can also hinder one’s true self.
For instance, in the fight between Idomeneus and Erymas, Idomeneus defeats Erymas using his spear and “raking through; up under the brain to split his glistening skull” (16.408-410). In this quote, Homer uses sight imagery to show the brutal effects of war on both individuals. Idomeneus kills Erymas, but in doing so, he hindered his true self. This can be seen when the author uses words such as “raking” and “split” to show the actions that Idomeneus were performing. Idomeneus could have ended Erymas’ life quickly but instead, he decided to stick his sword into his head and split it so that he would receive a painful death. This shows that war can make people “lose” their selves. Another example that exemplifies war hindering an individual’s identity is when, “ So now they went at the Argives, out for blood… If only we could seize his body, mutilate him, shame him” (16.647-656). In this quote, Homer displays the conflict among the Greeks and the Trojans. War blinded/hindered both groups’ true nature to the extent that they only want each other’s blood. The author uses words such
as
Page 3
“mutilate”, “shame” and “seize” to demonstrate what both sides want to do to each other. Thus, this shows that war has the ability to hinder an individual’s true self.
In conclusion, throughout the book, Homer exemplifies the consequences that war have on individuals. He displayed that war has the ability to bring out the barbarism out of people. Additionally, it can change people mentally and physically. Furthermore, it has the ability to hinder individuals from their true nature. This exemplifies that no matter the cause and reason, war is always an awful thing that comes with consequences.