Below I have undertaken the task of explicating two specific lines from Homer's The Iliad. Robert Fagles' translation of the epic poem is the
version I will be referring to, unless stated otherwise. Despite the fact that basically the entire epic involves war, I chose a rather discreet passage that occurs off the battlefield.
A brief explanation of events surrounding the passage is necessary before I can begin my explication. Achilles has just killed Hector. Priam, Hector’s father, comes to Achilles under the cover of night to plead for his son’s body to be returned since Achilles has refused to release the body to the Trojans. The reason for Achilles' disrespect of Hector's body is rooted in Hector's role in the murder of Patroclus, Achilles closest friend and possible lover (the latter is a topic meant for a different time). It is during their secret discussion that Achilles and Priam end up having a joint pity party. In Achilles' long speech to Priam (the Greeks were quite fond of words), two lines stand out among the rest:
A brief explanation of events surrounding the passage is necessary before I can begin my explication. Achilles has just killed Hector. Priam, Hector’s father, comes to Achilles under the cover of night to plead for his son’s body to be returned since Achilles has refused to release the body to the Trojans. The reason for Achilles' disrespect of Hector's body is rooted in Hector's role in the murder of Patroclus, Achilles closest friend and possible lover (the latter is a topic meant for a different time). It is during their secret discussion that Achilles and Priam end up having a joint pity party. In Achilles' long speech to Priam (the Greeks were quite fond of words), two lines stand out among the rest:
“So the immortals spun our lives that we, we wretched men
live on to bear such torments—the gods live free of sorrows."
-The Iliad, Book 24: Achilles and Priam, page 605, lines 613- 614
First, note Achilles' use of the term "immortals" in the first line. In another translation of The Iliad by Richmond Lattimore, "gods" is used in place of "immortals." The two words mean basically the same thing, but Fagles' translation leaves room for a broader interpretation of who is manipulating the lives of mortals. For example, in Greek mythology there are three sisters called the Fates who have been known to literally spin, well, fate. The Fates are classified as immortals. The use of "gods" by Lattimore limits the reader's imagination to the feisty beings associated with Mount Olympus. I'm not saying that the gods aren't part of the events in mortal lives. However, the gods are not the main source of manipulation, even though they interfere on many occasions. When it comes to meddling, the gods just can't help themselves. Usually, they intervene only when the situation would be beneficial to them or if their interaction is detrimental to one of their rivals.
Moving from the immortals to the mortals, why does Achilles use repetition of the word "we" in the first line? Did Achilles have a stutter? No. Therefore, the repetition is probably something that warrants a second glance. Repetition is usually used when someone wants to emphasize a point. Homer uses repetition extensively throughout The Iliad when he is highlighting the importance of a certain theme or event. The back to back use of a word imprints the word in the listener, or reader's, mind and forces them to pay attention to what follows, which in this case is "wretched men."
Who is Achilles referring to when he says, "we, we wretched men?" He could mean himself and Priam exclusively, or he could be referring to all men under the gods' surveillance. I would classify both Achilles and Priam as "wretched men," no offense to either of the characters. According to the Oxford dictionary, wretched is an adjective used to describe a person "in a very unhappy or unfortunate state." I can count the number of times Achilles or Priam are genuinely happy on one hand during The Iliad. They are miserable people. My theory is supported by Homer's repetition of the terrible fate awaiting both characters in the near future. Achilles is doomed to live a short life full of strife; Priam is doomed to live a long life equally full of strife. Both character's lives will come to an end soon after the two reconcile in Achilles' tent. It's a wonder that both of them are able to get out of bed in the morning, let alone fight a war with their imminent demise hanging over their heads. Albeit, Achilles can be classified as mentally unstable on many occasions. For example, he threatens to eat Hector's flesh shortly before killing him. Even in ancient Greece, cannibalism was a big no-no.
Achilles says that he and Priam must "bear such torments." Because The Iliad is about a war, the word "bear" calls to my mind the phrase "to bear arms." Maybe it's a coincidence of translation since Lattimore uses the phrase "live in unhappiness"in his version. I would like to believe that there is a connection between torments and weapons (arms). They must bear their torments through life the same way they would bear arms in battle, though arms are meant to protect and torments to deter.
The "torments" that Achilles and Priam face are different respectively. Priam has lived to be an old man blessed with many sons. However, this same blessing turns into a curse because many of Priam's sons die at the hands of Achilles. Likewise, Priam will die at the hands of the Achaeans. Achilles, on the other hand, is relatively young, but he knows his death is approaching quickly. His life is so tragic because he has to chose between glory after death or comfort before death. There is no other option, no gray area to turn to. Achilles is tormented by the decision he must make, but, by the time Achilles' is speaking with Priam, his mind has already been made up. He will stay in Troy and continue to fight, even if it will literally be the death of him.
Rather bitterly in my opinion, Achilles continues by accusing the gods of living "free of sorrows." I don't necessarily agree with this statement. While the gods may live free of mortal anguish, they are still capable of suffering. In fact, the gods' suffering is amplified by their immortality. They must live for eternity bearing the weight of anything that causes them anguish. They have mortal children who will die, whether it be from old age or battle wounds. They feel the sting of the loss just like any other parent. Zeus is reluctant to let his son, Sarpedon, die during the Trojan war. Also, at one point in the epic, Aphrodite is wounded by Diomedes and becomes so bent out of shape that she turns to Dione and has a mental breakdown. In some Greek myths, Hephaestus, an Olympian god, was essentially thrown off Mount Olympus due to a physical deformity, which I'm sure was great for his psyche. No, the gods are not able to escape sorrow. Sorrow comes for everyone, gods and mortals alike.
Perhaps the lines I have chosen are not the most well-known of The Iliad, but Achilles' words sum up the tension in the relationship between the gods and the mortals perfectly. The gods control the lives of mortals, and usually the result of such manipulation leads to disaster for man. But heaven, I mean Olympus, forbid that anyone tries to escape the fate laid out by the gods. Therefore, the bitterness felt toward the gods is understandable. Maybe if the gods and the mortals had invested in relationship counseling instead of petty revenge, the entire Trojan war could have been avoided.
Sources:
-The Iliad. Penguin Classics Deluxe E. New York: Penguin Books, 1990. Print.
-Lattimore, Richmond. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1961. Print.
Images:
Thor Anuual #8, page 43, panel 1
Moving from the immortals to the mortals, why does Achilles use repetition of the word "we" in the first line? Did Achilles have a stutter? No. Therefore, the repetition is probably something that warrants a second glance. Repetition is usually used when someone wants to emphasize a point. Homer uses repetition extensively throughout The Iliad when he is highlighting the importance of a certain theme or event. The back to back use of a word imprints the word in the listener, or reader's, mind and forces them to pay attention to what follows, which in this case is "wretched men."
Who is Achilles referring to when he says, "we, we wretched men?" He could mean himself and Priam exclusively, or he could be referring to all men under the gods' surveillance. I would classify both Achilles and Priam as "wretched men," no offense to either of the characters. According to the Oxford dictionary, wretched is an adjective used to describe a person "in a very unhappy or unfortunate state." I can count the number of times Achilles or Priam are genuinely happy on one hand during The Iliad. They are miserable people. My theory is supported by Homer's repetition of the terrible fate awaiting both characters in the near future. Achilles is doomed to live a short life full of strife; Priam is doomed to live a long life equally full of strife. Both character's lives will come to an end soon after the two reconcile in Achilles' tent. It's a wonder that both of them are able to get out of bed in the morning, let alone fight a war with their imminent demise hanging over their heads. Albeit, Achilles can be classified as mentally unstable on many occasions. For example, he threatens to eat Hector's flesh shortly before killing him. Even in ancient Greece, cannibalism was a big no-no.
Achilles says that he and Priam must "bear such torments." Because The Iliad is about a war, the word "bear" calls to my mind the phrase "to bear arms." Maybe it's a coincidence of translation since Lattimore uses the phrase "live in unhappiness"in his version. I would like to believe that there is a connection between torments and weapons (arms). They must bear their torments through life the same way they would bear arms in battle, though arms are meant to protect and torments to deter.
The "torments" that Achilles and Priam face are different respectively. Priam has lived to be an old man blessed with many sons. However, this same blessing turns into a curse because many of Priam's sons die at the hands of Achilles. Likewise, Priam will die at the hands of the Achaeans. Achilles, on the other hand, is relatively young, but he knows his death is approaching quickly. His life is so tragic because he has to chose between glory after death or comfort before death. There is no other option, no gray area to turn to. Achilles is tormented by the decision he must make, but, by the time Achilles' is speaking with Priam, his mind has already been made up. He will stay in Troy and continue to fight, even if it will literally be the death of him.
Rather bitterly in my opinion, Achilles continues by accusing the gods of living "free of sorrows." I don't necessarily agree with this statement. While the gods may live free of mortal anguish, they are still capable of suffering. In fact, the gods' suffering is amplified by their immortality. They must live for eternity bearing the weight of anything that causes them anguish. They have mortal children who will die, whether it be from old age or battle wounds. They feel the sting of the loss just like any other parent. Zeus is reluctant to let his son, Sarpedon, die during the Trojan war. Also, at one point in the epic, Aphrodite is wounded by Diomedes and becomes so bent out of shape that she turns to Dione and has a mental breakdown. In some Greek myths, Hephaestus, an Olympian god, was essentially thrown off Mount Olympus due to a physical deformity, which I'm sure was great for his psyche. No, the gods are not able to escape sorrow. Sorrow comes for everyone, gods and mortals alike.
Perhaps the lines I have chosen are not the most well-known of The Iliad, but Achilles' words sum up the tension in the relationship between the gods and the mortals perfectly. The gods control the lives of mortals, and usually the result of such manipulation leads to disaster for man. But heaven, I mean Olympus, forbid that anyone tries to escape the fate laid out by the gods. Therefore, the bitterness felt toward the gods is understandable. Maybe if the gods and the mortals had invested in relationship counseling instead of petty revenge, the entire Trojan war could have been avoided.
Sources:
-The Iliad. Penguin Classics Deluxe E. New York: Penguin Books, 1990. Print.
-Lattimore, Richmond. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1961. Print.
Images:
Thor Anuual #8, page 43, panel 1
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