Theme 1-Anger Flashcards
the lliad is about anger
It is a mistake to think the Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War. Many episodes of that war are left out.
Its subject is much more restricted.
‘Anger’ is the first word of the poem, and the anger of Achilles its stated subject.
The poem begins where Achilles’ anger begins, and ends where it ends.
The structure of Book 24 reflects that of Book 1, completing the unity of the story.
why make anger the subject of the lliad? graziosi view
Anger is a godlike element in Achilles’ character and thus embodies the tension in his nature (he is the son of a goddess yet a mortal):
Achilles is part-god, has superhuman ability and has a godlike anger (menis).
YET he is mortal, limited. He must come to terms with this.
He will not accept the Bk 9 offer because it will lead to his early death.
He is willing to die only when his godlike anger compels him.
BUT this divine anger cannot be sustained. Meeting Priam in Bk 24, he realises in the face of grief and death that he is as human as all others.
why make anger the subject
Achilles’ anger manifests the godlike part of his nature. It is the subject of the poem because it demonstrates the limits of mortality
is achillies anger justified?
to the original audience achilleas anger may have been seen as important with the aspect of time and kleos and therefore will be a different perspective to todays audience
what are the consequences of achillies’ anger
The deaths of warriors, including Greeks.
The suffering of families and entire communities.
The suffering of Achilles himself?
was homer trying to make a point with achillies anger?
does anger diminish his heroism.
Achilles has some regard for heroism: e.g., Bk 1 desire for restored honour, Bk 16 instructions to Patroclus and Bk 22 desire for glory.
YET angry desire for revenge seems to trump love of kleos and time:
Book 1 – refuses to fight and go to the assembly (no kleos). He claims he wants his honour restored, but…
Book 9 – refuses to accept huge and honourable compensation (no time); also refuses to live a short but glorious life (no kleos).
Book 19 – disinterest in the restoration of his time by Agamemnon.
Book 24 – dishonour of the way he treats Hector’s body mentioned by Apollo
does he only act heroically when it suits his anger
role of Agamemnon’s anger
plot development, but also contrast to Achilles
role of the gods anger
Their anger and arguments act as foils for mortal equivalents, because the gods never ‘cross the line’ into self-destructive behaviour. See Bks 1, 16, 24.
Divine anger has a large role in plot development. Think particularly about the consequences of divine wrath in:
Bk 1 (Apollo and the plague).
Bk 4 (Athene restarting the war).
Bk 22 (Athene and the death of Hector).
key passage. (book 1 PROEM)
'’Goddess, sing me the anger, of Achilles, Peleus’ son, that fatal anger that brought countless sorrows on the Greeks, and sent many valiant souls of warriors down to Hades, leaving their bodies as spoil for dogs and carrion birds: for thus was the will of Zeus brought to fulfilment. Sing of it from the moment when Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, that king of men, parted in wrath from noble Achilles.’’
key passage (book 9 ACHILLIES 2 FATES)
‘My mother, divine silver-footed Thetis, spoke the alternative fates open to me on my way to death. Remain here and fight at the siege of Troy, forgo all home-coming, yet win endless renown; or sail home to my native land, lose fame and glory, but live a long life, and be spared an early end.’
key passage (book 22 ACHILLIES DESIRE FOR GLORY)
'’Achilles chased Hector relentlessly, and he could no more escape than a fawn, that a hound starts from a mountain covert. Chased through glade and valley it may cower for a while in some thicket, but the dog tracks it down, running strongly till he gains his quarry. So Achilles chased Hector. Every time Hector made a break for the Dardanian Gate hoping to gain the shelter of the solid walls, where the defenders might protect him with their missiles, Achilles would head him off towards the plain, himself keeping the inner track by the walls. Yet, as in a dream where our pursuer cannot catch us nor we escape, Achilles could not overtake Hector, nor could Hector shake him off. Still, could Hector have eluded fate so long, had not Apollo, for the last and final time, come to strengthen him and speed him, and had not Achilles signalled to his men not to loose their deadly missiles at the man, lest he himself might be cheated of the glory? Yet when they reached The Springs for the fourth time, the Father raised his golden scales, and set the deaths of Achilles and horse-taming Hector in the balance, and lifted it on high. Down sank Hector’s lot towards Hades, and Phoebus Apollo left his side, while bright-eyed Athene came to Achilles and standing close, spoke winged words: ‘Glorious Achilles, beloved of Zeus, now you and I will kill Hector, and bring the Greeks great glory. Warlike he may be, but he’ll not escape us, even if Apollo, the Far-Striker, grovels before aegis-bearing Father Zeus. Stop now and catch your breath. I will go and incite him to fight you face to face.’’
key passage (book 1 ACHILLIES ANGER TRUMPS HIS DESIRE FOR GLORY)
'’But swift-footed Achilles, heaven-born son of Peleus, still nursed his anger beside the swift ships. He avoided the Assembly where men win renown, and kept from battle, eating his heart out where he was, longing for the noise of battle’’
key passage (book 9 achillies refusing honour)
‘As for his gifts they are hateful in my eyes, and not worth a hair. Even if he gave ten or twenty times what he has, and raised levies elsewhere, though it were all the wealth that flows to Orchomenus, or Egyptian Thebes, where the very houses are filled with treasure, and two hundred warriors with horse and chariot sally out from its hundred gates, not if he gave me as many gifts as the grains of sand or motes of dust, could he persuade me. First he must pay me fully in kind for this shame that stings my heart.’
key passage (book 9 achillies refusing glory)
‘Cattle and fine sheep may be taken; tripods and chestnut steeds won, but neither taking nor winning can recall a man’s spirit once the breath has left his lips. My mother, divine silver-footed Thetis, spoke the alternative fates open to me on my way to death. Remain here and fight at the siege of Troy, forgo all home-coming, yet win endless renown; or sail home to my native land, lose fame and glory, but live a long life, and be spared an early end.’
I advise you too to sail home. There is no hope of you conquering lofty Ilium, for far-echoing Zeus holds it carefully in his hand, and its people are full of courage. Now go and, as privileged elders, give my reply to the leaders of the Greeks, so they can think out some better way to save the ships and the army with them, since the depth of my anger forces this refusal. Let Phoenix though remain, and spend the night here. Then, he can sail home with me and my fleet in the morning: if he wishes to that is, I shall not force him.’
key passage (book 19 achillies disinterest in restoring his honour)
Fleet-footed Achilles replied: ‘Agamemnon, king of men, glorious son of Atreus, grant me your gifts if you wish, as is right, or keep them, it is up to you. But for now let us think of war, it is wrong to waste time in talking, and delay the great work still to do. Let Achilles then be your example as you face the enemy, fighting at the front and slaughtering the ranks of Trojans with his bronze spear.’
