The Iliad Character Analysis

In Richmond Lattimore’s The Iliad of Homer, substance in one’s identity seems only attainable through seeking glory. Rather than substance, the name that they are given serves more as a title than a true summary of their character. Despite the myriad of “heroes”, The Iliad displays the worst traits of man in all including the heroes themselves as well as the venerable gods of Olympos. Even with these horrible traits, can their extraordinary accomplishments truly compensate and catapult them to hero status? A world that claims to hold honor above all disregards it with biased justice for the sake of personal glory. Such a trade is made often throughout the epic especially with Achilleus’ request to “put strength into the Trojans, until the Achaians give [him] his rights” (Iliad 1.509-510), knowing that he will only be satisfied by the apology and compensation of Agamemnon alone. This request only prolongs the Achaians’ victory with needless death between both armies. To obsess with petty defiance over the lives of those who honor him, is that act of a hero—or a fool’s prison? In battle,
Most seeking glory, these heroes seem to be, instead, rather impatient with themselves as to what they truly are in the eyes of others. Rather than create an abundance for many, a cycle of taking is forever present. Even by his own words, Achilleus states that “Fate is the same for the man who holds back, the same if he fights hard. We are all held in a single honor, the brave with the weaklings.” (Iliad 9.318-319). He fears this to be true and wants to have some closure through glory that he would at least be of distinguishable from any other mortal man. Could this fear be any excuse for the never-ending wrath he used against many to attain glory? If only these heroes had proper examples of what they should aim for, then, maybe, they would resemble heroes within