Fate In The Iliad
Jordan Dixon
Mrs. Patchin
Literature
11 December 2015
The Gods Against Man
Fate is The development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power. Fate is a common theme found in almost all Greek myths and is the action in which drives the story and is created by the mythical figures called the Fates. In The Iliad fate is a prevalent subject throughout the poem. There is a constant clash between gods and man in the Trojan war. They are always at strife with one another with the god fighting in the background, but they will also cross paths and interact in the fighting. With the constant interaction between the two the god's power can be seen and is used against man. In their use of power some may think …show more content…
However, the gods do not have the power to change the fate of man. It is the jobs of the Fates or the Moirai to create the story of a person while the gods may have a small part the Fates have the ultimate say in someone's life because gods are still subject to fate. Gods want to uphold fate to keep order if fate was pushed aside then chaos would ensue.
An example of this can be seen in the myth of Oedipus. The king of Thebes, Laius, receive a prophecy from an oracle. He is warned that his son will kill him. When his wife, Jocasta, has a son, Oedipus, he takes it to be killed. He leaves him out in the elements and a shepherd passing by took in the infant and took care of him. He was then adopted by by king Polybus and the queen of Corinth. Oedipus visits the Oracle of Delphi and learns that it is his fate to kill his father and marry his mother. He then swears to never return to …show more content…
If I gold out here and I lay siege to Troy, my Journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to to the fatherland I love, my glory dies… true,but the life that's left me will be long, the stroke of death will not come on me quickly (The Iliad 9.497-505).”
Achilles is given his fate and must choose his fate. These are his set fates there can be nothing done, by the gods to for something else to happen. He will either die with glory or he will leave for home and live a long life with no glory. On the other hand, Achilles can be compared other warriors on the battlefield like his friend Patroclus has his fate set for him he has no choice to choose what he wants to happen. He must fight and die at the hands of Hector.
Another instance of this can be seen in the death of Hector. Hector is the only one outside the gates of Troy where he meets Achilles. Hector runs around the wall of Troy with Achilles in pursuit. Zeus takes pity and want to save him him but is corrected by Athena who goes to help
Mrs. Patchin
Literature
11 December 2015
The Gods Against Man
Fate is The development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power. Fate is a common theme found in almost all Greek myths and is the action in which drives the story and is created by the mythical figures called the Fates. In The Iliad fate is a prevalent subject throughout the poem. There is a constant clash between gods and man in the Trojan war. They are always at strife with one another with the god fighting in the background, but they will also cross paths and interact in the fighting. With the constant interaction between the two the god's power can be seen and is used against man. In their use of power some may think …show more content…
However, the gods do not have the power to change the fate of man. It is the jobs of the Fates or the Moirai to create the story of a person while the gods may have a small part the Fates have the ultimate say in someone's life because gods are still subject to fate. Gods want to uphold fate to keep order if fate was pushed aside then chaos would ensue.
An example of this can be seen in the myth of Oedipus. The king of Thebes, Laius, receive a prophecy from an oracle. He is warned that his son will kill him. When his wife, Jocasta, has a son, Oedipus, he takes it to be killed. He leaves him out in the elements and a shepherd passing by took in the infant and took care of him. He was then adopted by by king Polybus and the queen of Corinth. Oedipus visits the Oracle of Delphi and learns that it is his fate to kill his father and marry his mother. He then swears to never return to …show more content…
If I gold out here and I lay siege to Troy, my Journey home is gone, but my glory never dies. If I voyage back to to the fatherland I love, my glory dies… true,but the life that's left me will be long, the stroke of death will not come on me quickly (The Iliad 9.497-505).”
Achilles is given his fate and must choose his fate. These are his set fates there can be nothing done, by the gods to for something else to happen. He will either die with glory or he will leave for home and live a long life with no glory. On the other hand, Achilles can be compared other warriors on the battlefield like his friend Patroclus has his fate set for him he has no choice to choose what he wants to happen. He must fight and die at the hands of Hector.
Another instance of this can be seen in the death of Hector. Hector is the only one outside the gates of Troy where he meets Achilles. Hector runs around the wall of Troy with Achilles in pursuit. Zeus takes pity and want to save him him but is corrected by Athena who goes to help