Black Ships Before Troy: Argumentative Essay
The Trojan War is one of the most known battle or war in history, if not the most known. It was a very, very long war, but there was one main source or reason of conflict that drove it to last so long, it seemed endless. Paris, a Trojan prince, was promised a wife as fair as the goddess of beauty by Aphrodite herself. The particular woman she promised was already married to a Greek King by the name of Menelaus. This started not only tension between the Greeks and Trojans but also anger because they were recently married.Helen should have returned to the Greeks for a few reasons that could have led to a shorter war, or even no war.First off, Greek King Menelaus is her rightfully wedded husband. The war would have been totally prevented if a couple of decisions were better made. Finally, she never really was in love with Paris. It was all manipulated by Aphrodite. To begin with, there are three main reasons Helen should have been returned to the Greeks but the major reason that sticks out is the fact that King Menelaus was her rightfully wedded husband. Paris went to the palace of Menelaus to see her and potentially fall in love. That is precisely what happened. “And then the king rode out hunting. Paris made an excuse not to ride
…show more content…
The very small spark of “discard” is when Eris starts conflict, forcing Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite to argue who the “fairest” of the three is. Helen was a gift of Aphrodite to Paris because he decided she was the fairest. Since she was secretly taken from a Greek King and given to a Trojan prince, this started much tension and anger. During the War, there were many reasons for Helen to have been given back to the Greeks and a few to prevent her from being surrendered. In the end, this is one of the most infamous wars in history, and Helen was a central figure in this 10-year
Hector, acting on Helenus’ advice, told the Trojan women to make offerings to Athena, hoping she’d pity them and thus stop Diomedes from massacring any more of his soldiers.
In the novel, Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff, the majority of the characters are brave, and selfless heroes, except for Paris. Character traits are the aspects of a person's behavior and attitudes that make up that person's personality. Paris is a selfish coward who expects everyone to fight his war for him.
Her grievance was with Aeneas, but she decided that the whole of Rome should be punished for his transgressions, and because of her, her people also suffered as they were wiped out when they went to war with Rome.
I will assume Fate was pretty explanatory when Gorgias wrote the Encomium of Helen since he does not delve deep into his reasons like he later does for Logos. He mentions that a human cannot obstruct the will of God, or Fate, because humans are weak and God is stronger. Helen was a mere human so she could no way stand in the way of Fate. Gorgias concludes that Helen is not to blame in this case (82B116).
The Trojan War was incited by Paris’ theft of Menelaus’ wife. This is the first, and only, breach of xenia in all of the Iliad, with good cause. Paris was Menelaus’ guest but chose to steal Menelaus’ wife and much of his riches instead of honoring xenia as he should have. Paris’ transgression against xenia is what initially agitated Menelaus’. Although this act is not explicitly pictured in the Iliad, the Trojan War is essentially the fallout of Paris’ breach of xenia and without his infraction, many lives
This is the first, and only, breach of xenia in all of the Iliad, with good cause. Paris was Menelaus’ guest, but chose to steal Menelaus’ wife and much of his riches instead of honoring xenia as he should have. Paris’ transgression against xenia is what initially agitated Menelaus’. Although this act is not explicitly pictured in the Iliad, the Trojan War is essentially the fallout of Paris’ breach of xenia and without his infraction, many lives would have been spared. It is also worth noting that many, many kings and warlords mobilized a very large part of their power in the pursuit of one man’s wife, which speaks to the prestige of xenia and how much the Danaans valued
“Paris quailed as he saw Menelaus come forward and shrank in fear of his life under the cover of his men. As one who starts back affrighted, trembling and pale, when he comes suddenly upon a serpent in some mountain glade, even so did Paris plunge into the throng of Trojan warriors, terror-stricken at the sight of the son of Atreus. ”(56) A war breaks out between the Achaean and Trojans. The Achaean try to help Menelaus and try to cheer him up as they watch him fight endlessly for his happiness back, Helen.
Demetrius and Helena were supposed to be together but for someone reason he was after Hermia now. Lysander fell in love Hermia. “The love that seems so strong is weak in two ways: for the men it appears to be fickle, and for the women it comes between them as lifelong friends.” Both women feel like they can not trust each other around their men. The women are not even at fault in this situation, but they are the victims. They do not even see this because they are blinded by love with their men ,jealousy, and selfishness. They should have put each other before these men like the quote that says sisters before misters but apparently they were never best friends if they let men come between
She tells her mother, “I am going, mother. I cannot stand by while innocent lives are lost. If no one else will defend the world from Ares, then I must. I have to go”. Diana’s wit and skill in battle was one of the factors that helped end the war. She faced Ares by herself and managed to defeat him, bringing peace and tranquility. Likewise, Odysseus was called to by king Menelaus,whom he had made a promise to help, fight in a war against the Trojans. He was one of the suitors who tried to marry her so, “When she is taken by Paris, all the suitors who wanted to marry her are obligated to support Menelaus in his attempt to get her back” (Odyssey Powerpoint). Even though Odysseus really did not want to leave his home, he was duty bound to aid the King, and becomes one of the reasons why they won the war. Similarly,
“One by one the priest summoned us to the hearth, marking our wrists with blood and ash, binding as chains. I chanted the words of the oath back to him, my arm lifted for all to see” (pg.14). Here Miller is using information drawn from other sources to modify the original. In The Iliad, we are never told why these kings answered the call the rescue Helen. Miller explains that the original suitors for Helen’s hand; Odysseus, Ajax, Patroclus and many others swore an oath to come to Helen’s aid if anything were to happen to her. This value is one that both audiences would understand, you’re only as good as your word and people who break their promises are
The suspected start of the war- over the abduction of Helen, Queen of Sparta- was caused entirely by a godly conflict over who was the most beautiful- Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, was selected to judge. He chose Aphro...
Menelaos would not give up Helen without a fight. But when Paris heres the threat of Menelaos, to fight a duel to find out who will take possession of Helen, Paris acts like a coward at first, suddenly overcome by fear. Paris hides among his fellow Trojans to escape his fate.
The Iliad is not a story about the Trojan War at all, the war is just to set the stage for Homer to bring together the swift footed Achilles and Hector, the Prince of Troy, so they can be compared. The Iliad starts with how Achilles is dishonored by Agamemnon and withdraws from the war and ends with his return to the fight and eventually falling at the end. Hector is brought into the story and displays through his character what a real hero should be like.
Paris betraying the Trojans because he would not give up Helen which made the Trojans keep fighting is an example of love causing betrayal. Many say that Paris is just being selfish for doing this because he incited a war. Helen was Menelaus’ wife so that made him extremely mad and that is what started the war. Some people even believe that was his strategy. If that is true, it was not very smart and made him look like a dolt.
The movie shows Helen trapped in a loveless marriage with a man twice her age. Paris, the beautiful prince of Troy, suddenly shows up in her bedroom and convinces her to leave her husband and go to Troy with him. The movie does not let the viewer know that Helen was a reward to Paris for choosing to give a golden apple to the Goddess Aphrodite instead of the Goddess Hera or Athena. However, the basics are the same. Helen went with Paris, her husband, Menelaus then went to his brother, King Agamemnon to ask him to go to battle with the Trojans so that Menelaus could win his wife back and King Agamemnon agrees.... ...