Treatment Of Women In The Iliad Essay
The Role of Women in Iliad
Homer’s Iliad is remembered so many years after it was written as a poem and story that revolves around fierce war and anarchy between the Trojans and the Greeks. Men of might and heroic reputation slaughter and kill each other mercilessly in the story in hundreds and thousands (Farron 17). The aggressiveness and ferociousness that characterize the Homeric story sidelines and leaves very little space for women who are by all measures cannot withstand the intensity and atmosphere of the war between the two adversaries (Easterling 147). The Greek camp that consisted mainly of warriors provides a very thin and narrow window for presentation of women in the poem. However, the writer capitalized on the scenes in Troy to …show more content…
This was highly inspired by the reality that the events took place amidst war and utmost brutality between the two rivaling sides. The author kept in his mind that women just like men are complete beings and as such kept their emotions, feelings, thoughts, and depicted their ability to effectively interact with men even though most of their views and opinions never counted (Easterling 148; Beye 89). Women in Iliad are accorded respect through being taken care of by their male counterparts who are in constant war against their enemies. Hector is a classical example who took care of Andromache unconditionally emphasizing her safety in their house (Farron 22). Besides, Achilles took good care of Briseis who was his captive from war notwithstanding. Furthermore, women were respected through being given an ear even though their voice counted the least. King Priam respected his wife Hecabe to the extent of asking her for advice before he left to meet Achilles. Paris listened to Helen and in spite of her constant outburst and even wishing him defeat and death; he still tolerated and kept her (Homer, Iliad 6,
Homer’s Iliad is remembered so many years after it was written as a poem and story that revolves around fierce war and anarchy between the Trojans and the Greeks. Men of might and heroic reputation slaughter and kill each other mercilessly in the story in hundreds and thousands (Farron 17). The aggressiveness and ferociousness that characterize the Homeric story sidelines and leaves very little space for women who are by all measures cannot withstand the intensity and atmosphere of the war between the two adversaries (Easterling 147). The Greek camp that consisted mainly of warriors provides a very thin and narrow window for presentation of women in the poem. However, the writer capitalized on the scenes in Troy to …show more content…
This was highly inspired by the reality that the events took place amidst war and utmost brutality between the two rivaling sides. The author kept in his mind that women just like men are complete beings and as such kept their emotions, feelings, thoughts, and depicted their ability to effectively interact with men even though most of their views and opinions never counted (Easterling 148; Beye 89). Women in Iliad are accorded respect through being taken care of by their male counterparts who are in constant war against their enemies. Hector is a classical example who took care of Andromache unconditionally emphasizing her safety in their house (Farron 22). Besides, Achilles took good care of Briseis who was his captive from war notwithstanding. Furthermore, women were respected through being given an ear even though their voice counted the least. King Priam respected his wife Hecabe to the extent of asking her for advice before he left to meet Achilles. Paris listened to Helen and in spite of her constant outburst and even wishing him defeat and death; he still tolerated and kept her (Homer, Iliad 6,