Humanity In The Iliad And The Odyssey

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Throughout both The Iliad and The Odyssey, Homer uses many examples to show us humanity. Most frequently used illustrations are of compassion, loyalty, and bravery. Compassion is shown through the ransom of Hectors body, loyalty is exhibited through Eurycleia’s faithfulness to Odysseus’s household and family, and finally bravery is shown through the stringing of the bow by Odysseus. Humanity is displayed in both The Iliad and The Odyssey in various Homeric ways. First of all, the ransom for Hectors’ defaced body shows the compassion in The Iliad. Hector is portrayed as the “hero of sacred Troy” (24.213) so instead of defacing his body even more, Achilles demonstrates compassion and returns his sacred body back to Troy. Moreover, loyalty is

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