Heroism, Hubris, and Moderation in Homer's the Iliad
Why are morality, justice, honor, and virtues important for the world of "mortals?" Describe the relationship between the humankind and gods? What is hubris and what is the opposite of hubris? Why is longing for immortality so Important for humans?
In the Iliad, morality, justice and virtues are all simply devices to obtain and uphold honor. There are different kinds of honor: honor from heroic deeds, honor from being charitable, and honor to one's family being some examples. Greek society was mainly community- based, and status within that community was not fixed. One needed to maintain honor to keep one's place in society. Honor and glory were also a way of being remembered or immortalized. Along with status, possessions? spoils of war, booty, women-- were symbols of honor. The Trojan War began to uphold the honor of Menelaus, whose woman had been taken by Paris, son to the King of Troy. Agamemnon's troops are plague- stricken because he dare kidnap the daughter of a priest of Apollo and not return her, dishonoring the priest and the god he serves. Agamemnon further dishonors Achilles by taking from him his spoils. Achilles then refuses to fight, indirectly causing the deaths of thousands of soldiers.
As already stated, the Greek society is one of community and of the republic, but so often men are too intently focused on their individual honor rather than to attain honor for the greater good. Menelaus would rather go to war than to see his honor diminished. Agamemnon would rather incur the wrath of an immortal than sacrifice the symbol of the honor attained by being victorious in battle, and Achilles would rather sulk than fight because his booty was taken away. These men are guilty of hubris, or of exce ...