Comparing Fate In Iliad And Odyssey

796 Words4 Pages
Fate in Iliad and Odyssey Within the Iliad and Odyssey, the great theme of fate is prevalent. The mortal characters within both epics (examples are Achilles, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Telemachus, Hector, etc.) have a great deal of pride in the wars and journeys that occur, and they believe it to be their doing, but a majority of what happens is not determined by them – it is determined by the gods. With this being considered, it can be inferred that most of the occurrences of mortals are fated to them through predestination. One instance where fate is incorporated is the discussion between Hector and his wife Andromache located on page 129 beginning on line 427 of the Iliad. In the discussion, Andromache states that “possessed is what you are, Hector. Your courage is going to kill you, and you have no feeling left for your little boy or for me, the luckless woman who will soon be your widow.” Andromache knows that Hector will soon choose to die and leave his family. Hector responds to Andromache on line 463, stating “… I worry about this all this myself, but my shame before the Trojans and their wives, with…show more content…
Achilles is quoted as saying the following on page 141 line 424:"Two fates sweep me on to my death. If I stay here and fight, I’ll never return home, but my glory will be undying forever. If I return home to my dear fatherland, my pride my glory is lost but my life will be long, and death that ends all will not catch me soon.” Achilles has two options in his fate: to die young with glory or die old and be forgotten. Achilles chooses the fate of young glory (and later regrets it), but once chosen, he had no way of escaping his fate, as his killer, Paris, was helped by the god Apollo in shooting the arrow that penetrated Achilles’s heel. This shows that no mortal, no matter how invincible he/she is perceived to be, has no way of defending himself or herself against a
Show More
Related

  • Heracles Vs Gilgamesh Research Paper

    2212 Words  | 9 Pages

    Lizbetth Bribiesca Dr. Bonnie Harris History 100 27 September 2014 Primary Document Literature Essay Epic of Gilgamesh vs. Heracles Introduction This essay will examine the great stories of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Heracles. While both the stories of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Heracles explore the themes of love, death, the dangerous Gods, and the journeys to name a few, they also differ in other ways as in seductions, and love as a motivating force. The similarities and difference in their setting

    Read More

More about Comparing Fate In Iliad And Odyssey

Open Document