Is the Iliad Still Relevant to Present Society Discussion
first comment
There are numerous other reasons why the Iliad is still relevant today. For centuries, Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad” has been read and reread by generations. It’s a whirlwind of good fortune bestowed upon humanity by the gods they revere. This poem deals with battle, love, loss, and vengeance in a nutshell. Achilles, a legendary Greek warrior who stands head and shoulders above all others, is the central figure of Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad. This character is consumed with the idea of vengeance and war throughout the whole novel. In today’s literary landscape, the Iliad is a must-read because of its originality, explanation of Greek mythology, and ability to provide students with an ancient Greek literature work to love.
There are multiple reasons to read and study this novel, including its distinctiveness, the history of Greek mythology, and the excitement of the storyline. Even though Homer composed this poem hoping that it would be read by many, he probably never imagined it would be. The Iliad’s story will always be a place in literary history because it was told and people today crave adventure. Readers will always be drawn to a narrative that is unlike any other, a story that teaches them something new while also allowing them to immerse themselves in an intriguing plot (pg. 37, p1).
Because of its significance throughout history, The Iliad is an essential book that deserves to be read in its entirety. People in ancient times were attracted by the polygamous religions of the Greek gods, even though they did not practice them. Mount Olympus was the home of the principal gods of Greek mythology, who kept watch over the mortals on Earth. Even if many of the gods were beneficent, they all coexisted with sin. Zeus, the “Lightning God” of the gods, governed everything as the supreme god. Zeus was revered and feared by humans and immortals in The Iliad because of his maximum strength. History is made when Chryses begs Agamemnon for his daughter’s return to Greek mythology (pg. 38, p2)
References
Kagan, D., Ozment, S., Turner, F., and Frank, A., 2019. The Western Heritage, Volume 1. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, pp.34-38.
second comment
The Iliad is still relevant in today’s world because it changed the way people worshipped, as well as using it as a lesson to be reminded of their history, adding to their identity. The Iliad is a epic poem in 24 books that is about the chaos of the Greek hero Achilles, with the subject being the Trojan War. In the book the author claims that, “The lives of mortal beings are just like the ages of leaves. The wind suddenly scatters the old leaves throughout the field, the live oak bursts with fresh buds, as spring reappears. So it is with men: as one generation emerges, another vanishes.” (Homer book 6). This piece from the book is a perfect representation of the lesson reminded in their story stating along the lines that the significance of commanders treating their soldiers with respect, the significance of accepting apologies, and the necessity of familial ties being respected. We can see how the Iliad is still used in Today’s world by using our past to rise their future to not make the same mistakes.