Women's Role In The Iliad Research Paper

Essay #3

What is the role of women in the Iliad? Is this another ancient poem that demonstrates male dominance? Throughout the history of Greek mythology, women have had typical and preconceived roles. However, this does not affect the role of Briseis in Homer’s Iliad. In Homer’s epic poem, Briseis, Achilles’ captured Trojan slave, is significant because she is a prize, influenced the Trojan War, and is similar to the other strong women of the Iliad. In the ancient poem, Briseis was a princess who was captured once all her family members were killed by Achilles. The women played a vital role in the fate of the battles in this poem. It is startling because in archetypal Greek

myths, women are just seen as sex symbols. However, in Homer’s poem, women seem to symbolize the true wrath that a woman can expose. For being a minor character in the poem, Briseis impacted the plot deeply.

In fact, the Iliad would have not been the same if Briseis was not even mentioned.

As a result of the war between the Trojans and the Achaens, Briseis was captured by Achilles. She was given to him as a slave, prize, and possession. Ultimately, she was his property. Once given to Achilles, she was no longer a person. She was an object. Typically, wars create a strong emphasis on gender-based slavery, it stresses the status of women as possessions. Briseis’ role as being Achilles’ prize is crucial because she is a symbol of his glory. She signifies Achilles’ war strength and proves that he is a ruthless warrior. Not to mention, before her capture, Briseis was married to King Mynes of Lyrnessus, a city that was Troy’s ally. Capturing the enemy’s wife just adds even more value to the prize. It establishes a high status for Achilles. Nevertheless, glory and honor for warriors are not only achieved on the battlefield, but through their possessions. Being half man and half god, Achilles’ way with Briseis is parallel to the way Zeus possesses his power. In her book Homeric Variations on a Lament by Briseis, Casey Due notes, “The point is status, and the man

who gets her has more status”. Though she is labeled as an object, Briseis is significant as a prize because she affects the way Achilles is seen by the Greek people. A warrior without a prize is not a warrior at all. In fact, he is labeled as weak. In the poem, Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks, makes a threat of taking Achilles’ possession. Casey Due also notes, “I don’t think that any of you recognize, friends, that the greatest wars occurred because of women…”. The Trojan War itself was greatly affected by women. Beauty was important to the Ancient Greeks. In the unsigned online essay, “Briseis, Slave of Achilles,” the author states that “The beauty of Briseis was very important to her, and probably saved her life, but it also made her the slave of Achilles”. It was her beauty that drove the dispute between Achilles and Agamemnon. It was her beauty that caused Achilles to treat her less of a slave, and more like a companion. Due mentions in her book that “Even though she is a captive of war, he loves her as a man loves his wife”. Captured slaves are rarely treated like that, especially in the ancient times. The Iliad portrays women as “objects” that influence men with their beauty. Briseis’ beauty influenced the war.
Not only a prize, Briseis influenced Achilles’ role in the war. She influenced the wrath of Achilles. In the unsigned online essay “Achilles,” the author states “...Briseis, the subject of the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon that is the mainspring of the Iliad’s plot.” The way in which Briseis had the largest impact on the Trojan War is when Agamemnon demands her after he had to give his war prize back because of a dispute he had with Apollo. Agamemnon, the King of Greeks, demands the war prize that was rightfully earned by Achilles, the half god warrior. The fact that Agamemnon demands her creates a colossal issue for the Greeks. Achilles, angry at Agamemnon, withdraws from the war and does not fight for the Greeks. It is a well-known fact that Achilles is a powerful warrior that could possibly help bring victory for the Greeks. He withdraws from the war because of Briseis. The anonymous author also states “He is...three times more powerful than an ordinary warrior, the best and bravest of the Achaens...He is also the most intelligent character in the Iliad…”. With Achilles, the Greeks are unstoppable. Briseis’ character is extremely significant to the point where the victory of the Greeks is at stake. This is also where her beauty disrupts peace. In the unsigned online essay “Briseis, Slave of Achilles,” the author claims “Her beauty made her a valuable possession but one that others coveted...beautiful women get men into trouble…”. Agamemnon would not have demanded her if she wasn’t so beautiful. Agamemnon would not have risk the victory of the Greeks over an average looking woman. In Stephen Mitchell’s translation of The Iliad, he states “A warrior dedicates all his efforts to winning honor and glory among his peers…” A warrior who gives back his reward loses all value to his reputation. The taking away of Briseis disrupts the relationship between Achilles and the Greeks. Due to the taking of Briseis, Achilles’ refusal to war causes the unexpected loss of his friend Patroclus. Not only did Achilles lose his prize, but he also lost his best friend. If Briseis was never claimed by Agamemnon, Achilles would have took part of the war from the start thus saving Patroclus’ life. Even though she was a minor character, she played a major role in the war.
Even though she was a slave, she did have some similarities with the strong women of the Iliad. In the unsigned online essay “Achilles,” the author states “Helen is the loneliest character in the Iliad.”. Before her capture, Briseis lost all members of her family. Not only was she taken away from her city, but her loved ones were murdered right in front of her eyes. She was Achilles’ slave, therefore she did not have any friends other than Patroclus. Just like Helen, she was lonely too. When Patroclus died, Briseis mourned over his corpse in a heart-warming way. While she is mourning, Briseis she cries “My dearest Patroclus, I will never stop mourning your death. You were always kind” (319) . Just like Briseis, Helen mourned over Hector’s corpse in a heart-warming way. Additionally, both Helen and Briseis are war prizes. Helen was taken after battle, as well. Interestingly enough, both influenced the Trojan War. Helen started the war, and Briseis affected it. Helen is the cause of the entire ten year war, while Briseis caused fatalities. Also, the anonymous author states “When Paris and Menelaus enter into single combat over her...she becomes, literally, the trophy wife.” Although Agamemnon and Achilles did not physically enter into combat, they were ultimately fighting over Briseis. Caroline Vextor from the unsigned maicar.com “Briseis” essay states “Both of these important women are prizes battled for, and they mourn the deaths of their “brother-in-law”, those men who treated them with just a slim amount of the kindness they deserved, but never recieved”. These women went through the same tragedies. Helen, who was abducted by Paris of Troy, came from a royal family just like Briseis did. Helen was a queen. Briseis was a princess. Although Briseis was just a captured slave, she still had similarities with Helen, a strong woman of the Iliad.
Ultimately, women of Ancient Greek myths are usually just “things” that men possess of. However, that does not reflect the role of women in the Iliad. Even the most low-ranking woman had the power to impact the Trojan War. Briseis, a captured slave of Achilles, was significant because she was a prize, influenced the way, and had similarities with strong women of the Iliad. If there is one thing Greek warriors truly care about, it is their prizes. Prizes prove the value and glory of a warrior. Status was crucial in Greek society. Beauty was crucial in Greek society. Essentially, it was Briseis’ beauty that was significant. And it was essentially over Briseis, when Achilles decided to opt out of the war. Helen’s status was not low-ranking, however, both women did seem to have gone through the same thing. Homer’s epic poem illustrated that even a minor and flat character can impact the plot. If it wasn’t for Briseis, Achilles would have joined to fight for the Greeks. If Achilles never refused the war, Patroclus would not have been slaughtered. Overall, it may be said that women make the world go round.