The end of The Iliad may well be one of the most potent scenes in all of literature- when Priam sneaks into the Greek camp to plead for Hector’s body. Achilles response - moving from contempt to compassion - demonstrates our ability in these bodies to choose the mind of light and understanding. Not only did Achilles delay the giving of the body so that it could be prepared properly for Priam but he was planning on arranging the safe arrival of father and son to Troy. This is how the Iliad ends, with a genuine nod to the light in all of us. I love Achilles because he speaks to all of us in such starkness that the message is received.
Thanks so very much for refreshing my recollection of one of the greatest tales in all of literature, or is it history? It recalls the visit my wife and I made to the ruins of ancient Troy many years ago and stayed up all night before the visit reading Homer's Iliad. I know it's not considered legit, but my favorite translation is still Pope's.
It is also worth noting how the Iliad, while having rage as its main theme, also shows how human life is, yes, full of love, dance, and happiness, but also beset with sorrow, pain, and anguish (probably the ekphrasis of the Shield of Achilles is the best example of that Book 18, lines 478–608).
Achilles' desire to be/become 'larger than life', his (understandably/relatably human) desire to take part in the 'life-and-death' struggle and stake his claim to 'immortality', to do something more than just survive or live a normal everyday life, is also the cause of his sorrow, his deepest anguish.
The end of The Iliad may well be one of the most potent scenes in all of literature- when Priam sneaks into the Greek camp to plead for Hector’s body. Achilles response - moving from contempt to compassion - demonstrates our ability in these bodies to choose the mind of light and understanding. Not only did Achilles delay the giving of the body so that it could be prepared properly for Priam but he was planning on arranging the safe arrival of father and son to Troy. This is how the Iliad ends, with a genuine nod to the light in all of us. I love Achilles because he speaks to all of us in such starkness that the message is received.
our ability in these bodies to choose the mind of light and understanding. That is a beautiful phrase. Thank you
I always favored the trojans-i consider hector the hero and achilles the anti-hero
Thanks so very much for refreshing my recollection of one of the greatest tales in all of literature, or is it history? It recalls the visit my wife and I made to the ruins of ancient Troy many years ago and stayed up all night before the visit reading Homer's Iliad. I know it's not considered legit, but my favorite translation is still Pope's.
It is also worth noting how the Iliad, while having rage as its main theme, also shows how human life is, yes, full of love, dance, and happiness, but also beset with sorrow, pain, and anguish (probably the ekphrasis of the Shield of Achilles is the best example of that Book 18, lines 478–608).
Achilles' desire to be/become 'larger than life', his (understandably/relatably human) desire to take part in the 'life-and-death' struggle and stake his claim to 'immortality', to do something more than just survive or live a normal everyday life, is also the cause of his sorrow, his deepest anguish.
it shows all of life-that's why i-think it's the greatest work of literature
Very good retelling of the pertinent aspects of the tale.