The Iliad

             A modern reader's response to "The Iliad's"
             "The Iliad" is a story of courage and war. Two friends torn apart by one's stubbornness and a battle that was controlled by gods. "The Iliad" raises a big question on the status of women. The women in this story were used sexually, however the men couldn't survive without the women. Women was not only demeaned, but were also a sense of pride or strength. The men in this story felt they were nothing without the presence of a woman.
             The first showing of the status of women was through the central character Agamemnon, who doesn't want to lose his precious prize, Khryseis. Not without inheriting another woman called Briseis a "flower of young girls that she is"(30,line 16) he wants to "show here and now who is stronger." (30, line 17) In this scene, a women is somewhat uplifted, for having a women of high quality proved that he was superior to everyone else. The father of Khrseis goes to great lengths to see that his daughter is returned, which shows loyalty to a woman. Women here are being praised, but that will soon change.
             Thetis, the sea nymph, is asked by her son Akhilleus to ask Zeus to punish the Achaens. When Thetis proposes her problem to Zeus he respond by saying that she " drive [him] into open war with Hera sooner or later: she will be at [him], scolding all day long." (39, line 96-97) In this scene Zeus shows his respect to his wife, Hera by acknowledging her opinion, since she favors the Greeks. Zeus is now torn between a battle with two women. But soon after, Zeus forgets about his wife and finally decides to pay back his favor to Thetis. Hera goes on nagging Zeus about his arrangement with Thetis and the Zeus threatens to "lay [his] inexorable hands upon [her]" (40, 653). This is a turning point in "The Iliad's" status of women for Zeus the l
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The Iliad. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 06:13, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/86694.html