Social Roles in "The Iliad"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the social roles of the hero in "The Iliad" by Homer. It shows the impact of the grim facts of war in relation to death and life and how this produces an increased social role in life. The paper defines the social role of Hector as a hero who is an ethical defender of his family through civic responsibility. It also shows how the social role of gift giving is also a part in the heroic code, as honor becomes the central catalyst for the heroic portrayals provided by Homer in "The Iliad."

From the Paper:

"With this loss, Achilles eventually fights Hector and kills him. He then disgracefully drags his body after his chariot because his rage has fully consumed. Achilles has lost any kind of sanity he had since his clash with Agamemnon, which has been the social fabric of the heroic code that is the result of a dishonorable gift giving exchange. The cycle of military honor has been made complete, enforcing the sense of social norms that created the plot dynamics and the sense of honor in battle. Now, Achilles appears to care little for living any longer, since his closest friend is now dead. The social forces of military honor have created the basis of a heroic code for Achilles, which along with hector, provide the duty that a warrior must abide by to gain the respect and loyalty of his family, friends, and fellow soldiers."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Homer. "The Iliad." 2006. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 16 March, 2007. <http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/iliad.html>

More papers on Social Roles in "The Iliad":

• Book Review # 132437 : "Analyzing the Social Roles in "The Iliad" by Homer"
• Book Review # 102683 : "Honor and its Social Impact in "The Iliad" by Homer"
• Analytical Essay # 132589 : "Analyzing the Social Roles of the Heroic Code in the Iliad"

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