Jenelle Fiori; The Iliad

After reading “The Iliad”, I can better understand the structure and dynamic of the epic. First, as we learned in class, there is a single person going on a mission that usually explodes into something more than it should be because someone alternated fate. In this particular epic, Achilles and Agamemnon are arguing over the prize of a girl. In real life, this is a very immature rivalry, especially when portrayed in the gods, who are supposed to be perfect leaders and the image of society. Instead they ironically commit the seven deadly sins; such as the lust after Helen, the egotist Achilles greed for his prize and his jealousy of Agamemnon. It is very hypocritical. I also find the symbolism of the gods and battles in relation to the Crusades and the Trojan War. I especially like knowing the background stories of each battle and seeing how everything in interconnected. The most interesting use of symbolism was when Achilles chases Hector in line 150, which symbolizes the fall of Troy. The final thing that I notice about “The Iliad” is the use of defining traits and long monologues that show the importance of the gods and still expose their flaws, such as Achilles’ ego. All in all, I find that this epic was very interesting, though semi difficult to read at first, and I look forward to reading further into the Greek tragedies.