The Role of Women in Homer’s Iliad Essay - 796 Words

The Role of Women in Homer’s Iliad Homer’s Iliad is undoubtedly focused on its male characters: Achilles, primarily, but also Hector and Agamemnon. Nevertheless, it seems that the most crucial characters in the epic are female. Homer uses the characters of Thetis, Andromache, and Helen as a basis for comparison to the male characters. Homer wants his audience to see and understand the folly of his male characters in choosing war over peace, aggression over kindness, and honor over family. While the behavior of these characters clearly speaks for itself, the contrasting attitudes and behaviors of the female characters proffer an alternative; in comparison, the reader can hardly fail to concur with Homer’s message that war, aggression,†¦show more content†¦Thetis is always motivated by her love and pity for her son, two emotions he seems unable to feel himself. As a loving mother, she is concerned for her son and his future and so ensures that he is aware of his options. Out of respect for him, sh e allows Achilles to make his own decision and goes as far as to support him fully, although the attentive reader can sense that doing so is immensely painful for her. Therefore, although it superficially seems that Thetis supports war and aggression, her true motives are far more admirable. Unlike Thetis, Andromache’s values are clear. On the rampart in book six, she makes an impassioned plea to Hector for reason and peace. Pity me, please! she says, Take your stand on the rampart here, before you orphan your son and make your wife a widow. (ll. 230-231) When her fears are realized and Hector is struck down by Achilles, she laments, Hector, what help are you to [Astyanax], now you are dead? (l. 571) This single statement lays bare the true folly of pride: How can one justify the preservation of honor at the cost of the destruction of all that one fought for in the first place? Finally, there is great irony in the lamentations of both Helen and Briseis for Hector and Patroclus respectively. Helen proclaims her respect for Hector’s kindness: Hector, you’d win them to my side . . . you with your gentle temper, all your gentleShow MoreRelated A Comparison of the Role of Women in Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad3375 Words   |  14 PagesThe Role of Women in Odyssey and The Iliad The Iliad and Odyssey present different ideals of women, and the goddesses, who are presented as ideal women, differ between the two epics. The difference in roles is largely dependent on power, and relations to men, as well as sexual desirability and activity. The goddesses have a major role in both epics as Helpers of men. They have varied reasons for this.   One is a maternal instinct. 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Throughout history, women hav e been viewed as playing small roles in society. The role of women in the Iliad is very small and overshadowed by the main story of Achilles and the Trojan War. The shadow that is cast over the women in the Iliad can often block readers from seeing the important role that they play in this classic Epic Poem. Most readers view the women of the Iliad as simply war prizes but without them there