Helen of Troy willing resident or prisoner; in The Iliad
The question of whether Helen is a willing resident or a captive resident of Troy is explained in The Iliad, Book III. I believe that Helen is a captive resident of Troy. With the help of Aphroditę, Alexandros seduces Helen, and she temporarily falls in love with him. He then carries her away from her home in Lacedaimon. When the fighting starts, it has little affect on Helen, but then Iris informs her that Alexandros and Menelaos are going to fight for her. This makes Helen come out of the trance of love and she feels miserable and extremely homesick. She misses her husband Menelaos, whom she truly loves, as well as her family and friends back home in Lacedaimon. It is because of Aphroditę, Helen has stayed with Alexandros so long and laid with him in bed. When Iris, messenger of the gods, tells Helen that Alexandros and Melelaos are going to fight for her, she reacts with sorrow and regret. "These words pierced Helen to the heart. She longed for her husband of the old days, for home and family. At once she threw a white veil over her, and left the house quickly with tears running down her cheeks." Once she gets to the battlements, Priam calls her over to sit by him. He feels sorry for her and tries to take h
"Helen answered: 'You do me honour, my dear goodfather! How I wish I had died before I followed your son here, and left my bridal chamber and my family, my beloved daughter and all my young friends! But that was not to be; and so I pine away in sorrow.'" Alexandros answers in his sweet, loving voice that he defends himself by saying that he would have won but the goddess Athena was helping Menelaos. Then in order to ease Helen's anger, he tells her how much he loves her. While declaring his love for her he admits to us, the readers, of carrying Helen off in his ship. This indicates that Helen must truly a captive of Troy. She misses her home in Lacedaimon, her husband Menelaos, her daughter and family and friends. Though, with the influence of Aphroditę and the seducing from Alexandros, at times she acts other wise. 'This is strange indeed! Why do you wish to befool me? Will you carry me away somewhere still farther off, to some city of Phrygia or Meionia, where you have another friend among the sons of men! I suppose Menelaos has killed him, and wants to take me home, the woman whom he hates. I suppose that's why you are here with more of your tricks and schemes. Go and sit by him yourself." "Aphrodite all smiles, put a c
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 849
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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