Homer's View on War in "The Iliad"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines Homer's view of war and discusses how it appears to be at odds with itself because he seems to both glorify and scorn it at the same time. The paper focuses on Homer's views that are expressed in his work, "The Iliad" and suggests that in actuality, he is not glorifying war, but instead the individual soldiers who fight it.

From the Paper:

"War is hell, but the warriors that fight it are honorable, despite the fact that they are the ones doing the killing that makes war hell. This is because what makes them praiseworthy is not the fact that they have killed, but instead what the killing shows about them - that they are strong, athletic, and courageous. In other words, it is their character and physical traits that make them admirable, and this is why Achilles loses much of his glory by the end. Though he is the strongest, most athletic, and most courageous man, he is also the most savage and heartless."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Homer; Translated by Johnston, Ian. The Iliad. Richer Resources Publications: Arlington, Virginia 2006

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• Analytical Essay # 118902 : "Portrayal of Women in "The Iliad "
• Comparison Essay # 6516 : "The Iliad" and "The Aeneid"
• Analytical Essay # 7108 : "The Trojan War"

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