The Iliad Compare And Contrast Essay

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The battle between a film, and a story will forever be discussed through society. Does Hollywood create a better story line full of drama and action? Or did the author create a great enough story for a movie on their own. One example of this issue shows when comparing The Iliad written by Homer, and the 2004 film Troy. Although the movie strays from the ancient story, it is up to the audience to decide which they prefer more.
One of the main differences found when comparing the film Troy and The Iliad is how Patroclus was portrayed. Throughout The Illiad the intimate relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is an important aspect of the story. This relationship helps readers understand who Achilles is as a person behind the image he was …show more content…

This scene takes place during the battle, when Agamemnon’s forces get defeated by Troy’s archers. This leads to Hector murdering Ajax. However, when Homer tells this tale Ajax survives to the end of The Iliad. When the battle of Troy ends, Ajax and Odysseus claim Achilles armor for their own as a reward for the heroic efforts they each just endured. When the two cannot agree on who should gain the armor, the decision gets handed to the council who, after each men gives their reason why they should gain it, decided that Odysseus is worthy of the armor as his reward. Losing this possession destroyed Ajax mentally after everything he recently went through, and pushes him towards the idea of suicide which he then commits. I feel as though the directors chose what they did because the idea of Hector killing Ajax probably seems more action packed for an audience to view. Most war movies are filled with the most action and killing as possible which they gained by changing the way this scene plays out. Although I understand why they altered the story, I still think I would have liked to see Homer’s version of this story instead. The Iliad gives a greater emotion filled story and shows how heroic Ajax is as a character, as well as Odysseus. His suicide gives a greater understanding on the thought process warriors had in that time period

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