Virtue And Righteousness In Homer's The Iliad

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A man threw his son of a mountain because he was ugly. A soldier doomed his countrymen because his prize was stolen from him. A woman plotted the destruction of an entire city because one man chose another woman over her. Murder, jealousy, and impulsive anger, none of these traits sound virtuous, and yet these were among the most virtuous of people. Through The Iliad by Homer, the differences between Ancient Greek idea and the current idea of righteousness become visible. But power and goodness cannot stave off misfortune and grief. Although his definition of virtue remains drastically different from the modern definition, Homer teaches that virtue does not save from tragedy and divine power does not always rescue from pain and sorrow.
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No saint nor sinner has ever escaped that final tragedy. Even the happiest man to ever live had tragedy in his life, whether it was felt by him or just those around him the fact remains that it was present. Homer gives us multiple examples of virtuous and powerful people falling into tragedy. Hector and Achilles both had honor, glory, power, and riches, and yet neither could escape the great equalizer or his companions. Hector loses his city, his companions, and his life. Achilles had been told by the gods that if he were to fight, he would win unequaled glory but would lose his life in return. He wrestles with whether he should fight and die with honor and fame or escape a shamed coward and live. Eventually his survival instincts win out and he plans to head home when Patroclus dies. Patroclus and Achilles, though not related, there bonded rivaled the closest ties of family. His death shattered Achilles, his death tipped the scales in Achilles’s mental battle. But honor, virtue, and glory did not save Achilles. In fact, most of the characters celebrated for their virtue and power ended up suffering great tragedy. Pain and sorrow and death floods these pages and not even divine intervention

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