How the Values of Today Compare with Those in the Iliad

How the Values of Today Compare with Those in the Iliad Comparing the values of the characters in The Iliad to current society is a difficult task. Today, American society is a melting pot of many cultures and races. Each person donates a small amount to the overall values of the society. There may be stark differences in the meaning of pride or honor between cultures, and this differs from those seen in Homer’s epic. It is a rare quality that someone sees death as an honor today, but the story is full of examples of this behavior. However, other cultures, such as the Japanese, put a great deal of emphasis on honor. Being a person of your word is the most important thing to many, but some in modern American society consider honesty a weakness. We will now look at the differences and similarities of the values of those in the story to people today, and how they compare with other cultures around the world. The strangest and most foreign difference is the way women are used as offerings of honor in the story. It is unimaginable to give women to men in order to honor them. Agamemnon said, “I will also give him seven beautiful women who are skilled at handicraft, among them Briseis, whom I have never touched.” (Homer 139) Earlier in the story, Achilles said, “I will not fight you for Briseis because you gave her to me.” (Homer 131). The reason Agamemnon took Briseis is because he had to give up Chryseis. Both were gifts given to Agamemnon and Achilles to honor them. Agamemnon says, “I prefer Chryseis to my wife Clytemnstra… Yet even though I love her, if it is necessary, I will return Chryseis to her father.” (Homer 129) This behavior is completely foreign to us today. There are cultures where women are promised to men in marriage, and there are also many polygamous cultures, but the thought of using them as prizes is a kin to slavery. When we look at certain traits such as dignity, we can see it was very important to the Trojans and ancient Greeks. When Paris sees Menelaus accept his challenge of man to man combat, he cowers in fear behind his men. When Hector sees this, he exclaims, “Evil Paris! It would have been far better for the Trojan people had you never been born or had you died unwed. As it is, your behavior is shameful. You countrymen scorn you, and the Greeks must be laughing to see you lack courage in your heart.” (Homer 133) Clearly, bravery in battle, and dying in battle shows courage, and gives you a sense of dignity among your countrymen. Now, this is comparable to behavior today. Being called a coward is still a great insult, and it is impossible to show any amount of dignity by being a coward. Fame does not seem to be the same today as it was back then. In the story, fame seems to be based on your prowess in battle. I am sure there were famous Greek and Trojan artist, politicians, or athletes, but the soldier holds a much higher level of reverence. Today, I am sure if you asked 100 people, maybe one would be able to name a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. However, 99 out of 100 probably know of Tiger Woods or Tom Cruise. Revenge is certainly a theme throughout the story. The entire was because Paris took Helen from Menelaus. Agamemnon took revenge on Achilles for losing Chryseis. Achilles has to take revenge on Hector. “What joy can I have when Patroclus, dearest of all to me, is dead? I no longer care to live unless I slay the godlike son of Priam who killed my friend!”(Homer 145) Even the gods in the story are full of revenge on one another for past offenses. The sense of revenge is not lost on people today. However, laws today would not allow revenge in this manner. The one consistency with all the revenge in the story is everyone feels it is owed them, and would be a great offense not getting the revenge. There would not be much anyone could do if another man stole their wife or whatever Chryseis was to Agamemnon. Achilles would have to rely on the judicial system for any retribution on Hector. Honor, glory, and pride all seemed to be linked to battle in the story. When Achilles was seen by Hector, he had to make a choice. He could have retreated, but he was responsible for Achilles entering the war because he killed Patroclus. He even thought of approaching Achilles unarmed, but knew he would just be slain. “If I approach Achilles in a submissive way, he will neither respect me nor pity me but will kill me as I stand unarmed before him. No, the first approach is the better one: to fight it out and learn which of us will gain glory.” (Homer 147) Achilles even told the Greeks not to try and kill Hector because he wanted the glory. At the end of the battle, Hector says, “At least I will die with honor, so that men in times to come will hear of my valor.” (Homer 149). At the end of the story, Ajax and Odysseus battled for Achilles armor. With the help of Athena, Odysseus won the contest. “Ajax was so humiliated by the defeat, he went insane…he was so ashamed he killed himself.” (Homer 154) This seems like quite an overreaction to a contest for a war prize, but you do hear from time to time of people killing themselves today because they did not win something. It is rare, but it does happen. The story basically ends with “The greatest Greek warriors were entitled to special prizes of honor, which, now, were the greatest of the Trojan women.” (Homer 155) and Hector’s son was thrown to his death. We see these actions as barbaric by today’s standards. However, the feelings of pride, honor, revenge, or fame are still just as strong.
Works Cited
Homer. “The Iliad.” World Mythology: An Anthology of the Great Myths and Epics. Ed. Donna Rosenburg. Chicago: NTC/Contemporary, 1999. 106-155. Print.

Cited: Homer. “The Iliad.” World Mythology: An Anthology of the Great Myths and Epics. Ed. Donna Rosenburg. Chicago: NTC/Contemporary, 1999. 106-155. Print.