by Jacqueline Bartelmo

Created on: March 19, 2009   Last Updated: March 23, 2009

War is something that has been around for centuries and will probably be around for centuries more. It also can have devastating effects on those who are actually in combat. Like when Hector killed Patroclus thinking it was Achilles, when Hector saw that it wasn't Achilles, but instead a young boy brought much devastation to him.

However, in today's world it is almost like we are used to seeing young boys. I am not saying it isn't sad but rather we expect it. But of course the era they lived in was much different from the era we live in today and the way their battles were fought were also different from today. This is shown on the basis of honor; Hector knew because of what he did he had to honor Patroclus' cousin and face Achilles in a duel.

I fully believe that Hector not only knew he was going to die, but let himself be killed because it was the only thing that would make what happened right. Also just like when Hector's father came to beg for his son's body back for a proper barial. Though Achilles may have still been his enemy he respected the king and let him take his son back. Although in today's world we don't honor the enemies dead the way they were back when Homer wrote the Iliad.

The whole story had much honor and courage in it, which is why it became such a great story that has been around for centuries. This is also shown when Hectors younger brother stays behind to find the Greeks when they invaded Troy by a surprise attack. He did what he thought his brother would have done in the situation, which would have been to stay up and fight with his men at all cost. Achilles also felt the same way even though he knew that his fate one day meant death.

When I relive the Trojan war in the Iliad I think of all the bravery and courage that every character had. I also saw rationalization of the war, they knew that one day war would bring their deaths and they weren't scared of that. It was something they accepted as warriors, however, if you look at our warriors today death is something that they are all scared of.

It is something they feel would not and could not happen to them, and I believe that is was makes the Iliad so tragic. The irony in this story is that Achilles is actually killed in the act of saving someone he had actually fallen in love with, even though she was the enemy he didn't want her to die in the city that his men had torched and took over. So he goes through the burning city to find her and save her from an ill fated death, which causes

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>