Iliad - Book 24
In Book 24, the scene between Priam and Achilleus, which may also be called "The Banquet", served as the climax of the poem. During this scene a series of events developed themselves to resolve some very important situations in the Iliad - Achilleus was "returned" from his deep sorrow and anger for his dear friend Patroklos. Also, he realized that it was time to stop his great stubbornness, to leave behind his behavior, to change. The "interference from the gods" and "symbolism" were used by Homer throughout the Iliad. These techniques very effectively achieved the purpose of Book 24 as being the climatic chapter of the epic. Moreover, analyzing Book 24 and especially "The Banquet" more closely and through the course of our in-class discussions, it can also be added that "role-reversal" was another important technique Homer used to finalize the Iliad. During the final chapter of the Iliad, as throughout the epic, interventions from gods played one of the most important roles in virtually every significant event during the course of war. "...the goddess silver-foot Thetis...descended in a flash of speed from the peaks of Olympos...", (p. 478), to tell Achilleus that it was the time to stop "...eating your heart out in sorro
Another example of involvement of the gods would be Priam's reaching the Achilleus' shelter. Only thanks to Hermes' presence was Priam able to reach and enter the shelter that Myrmidons built for their king, unseen by Achaians. Also, he left the encampment of Myrmidons with the help of same Hermes. Surely, this would not be possible if Priam had gone there without any help from Olympos. Every important action in the Iliad was either caused by or affected by interventions from gods. Achilleus knew his fate. That was the reason for his angry reaction to Priam's words of supplication, when he was asked to accept the gifts for the body of Hektor - "No longer stir me up, old sir. ... You must not further make my spirit move in my sorrows" (p. 490). Achilleus understood that there have been neither significance nor value in gifts if there were not much longer left for him to live. From the beginning of the poem, we, the readers, were aware of the fact that he was mindful of his glorious, magnificent, but, unfortunately, short life. He knew that after Hektor was dead, it would be his turn. When Hektor was killed by Achilleus, he was wearing Achilleus' armor. Symbolically, Achilleus had chosen his own destiny - by killing Hektor, he has really killed himself. Of course, symbolically, Achilleus was accepting his own fate by giving the dead body of Hektor to Priam. He, himself, with the help of his friends, lifted Hektor's body onto the wagon. Priam in his house, after telling his wife that he was about to go to Achilleus, disregarded his wife's opinio
Some common words found in the essay are:
Iliad Achilleus, Troy Achilleus, Priam Hektor's, Zeus's Priam, Achilleus Iris, Surely Priam, Suddenly Achilleus, Achilleus Patroklos', Symbolically Achilleus, Priam Achilleus, book 24, throughout iliad, hektor's body, body hektor, interventions gods, dead body, friend patroklos, homer throughout iliad, iliad throughout, homer throughout, sorrow anger,
Approximate Word count = 1058
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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