Homer's influence on Western civilization through the Iliad and Odyssey

Homer is the famous Greek poet and author who is believed to have written two famous plays entitled "Iliad" and "Odyssey."

Both of this plays are very famous which have transcend over time and characterization plus the setting and the plot itself can still cater to almost, if not, all readers. Both of the plays reflect the development of Western Civilization.

Ironic as it may sound, but it is a fact that Greeks, such as Homer, had a profound effect to the mere development of Western Civilization and culture. Just like Homer, who had made his contributions felt through the use of his carefully and meaningfully written plays or novels.

Many of the characteristics elements of the Western culture were sourced out from the Classical Greece (Mackay, 1999). It is the Greeks who initiated and/or mastered democracy, philosophy, tragedy, poetry both epic and lyric, history writing, aesthetic sensibilities specifically in architecture, sports and ideals of athletic competition, judiciary and labor system and a lot, lot more (http://www.teach12.com/ttc/Assets/courseDescriptions/323.asp.,1999; par 1).

This is the reason why the Greeks are being respected by many up to this modern time.

Greek's Influences to Western Civilization through Homer's Literature

On Education

The Greeks have given tremendous impact on the style and system of education in the Western civilization. Greeks started the use of alphabet that is now being used by the all of the western populace. Greek philosophers also initialized the idea of writing various forms of literature - such as poems and epics - and putting up a play. Various researches revealed that Greeks are a firm believer that there is a pattern to the development of human affairs, and that if one studies the story of that development one can learn from the past and apply that learning to human affairs, hence the start of history writing (Mackay, 1999).

Just like any other classical Greek poetry, the setting of Homer's novel, particularly Iliad, is based on the ancient belief or history. The novel, as what Homer strategically planned to do, uses vivid descriptive words that any ready could imagine exactly what is being discussed in the novel. Moreover, the very theme of "Iliad" is one of the most common themes used in classical Greek poetry. It talks about events that happen in real life. It talks about religion and how people believe in the words of God. It talks about doing good deeds to receive good karma in return - a typical Greek literature theme that had been widely used as the development of Western Civilization started.

On Form of Governance

The idea of a democratic governance also started from the Greek civilization. The Greeks were the first to enjoin the "commoners" or the "common" people in electing a leader for their government. It is evident that even today that this form of governance and electoral process is still being used, especially in the Western civilization. The Western world may have modified the process a bit, but the very idea undeniably came from the Greek civilization.

Greek's judicial system and processes was also the foundation of that in the Western world. Greeks were the first one to have a "court" trial with an actual jury or juries who belong to the common populace.

People from the Western civilization found this to be fair and morally upright, hence they started to follow the process.

By reading Homer's "Iliad," it can be reflected that the characters used in the novel showed the form of governance of the Greeks that was followed in the Western Civilization. More so, Homer's "Iliad" gives the reader a vivid description of the kind of people a certain society of government normally has. It then shows that the Greeks' influences run not only on the form of governance, but also on the kind of thinking that people in the Western Civilization has.

Characters of Iliad

Agamemnon

Meanwhile, Agamemnon has a slight resemblance to Achilles. Achilles decision making process and impulsive characteristics are very muck alike with that of Agamemnon. Like for example when Agamemnon's insulting demand that Achilles relinquish his war prize, Briseis, causes Achilles to withdraw angrily from battle, the suffering that results for the Greek army owe as much to Agamemnon's stubbornness as to that of Achilles (Homer, 1998).

The difference between these two is the fact that Agamemnon's pride makes him more arrogant than Achilles. While Achilles' pride sparkles up after it is injured, Agamemnon uses every opportunity to make others feel the effects of his. He is always expecting to get the largest portions of the plunder, even though he takes the fewest risks in battle. Also, he keeps on insisting to be the leader of the army despite the fact that he is younger than his brother Menelaus. Agamemnon also differs from Achilles in his appreciation of subtlety. If Achilles is known for being firm and devoted to those who love him but vicious to those who do him harm, Agamemnon is only concerned with himself and he can manipulate people and situations for his own benefit. He does not give his full trust to his troops, he demonstrates a deft ability to keep himself and others under control (Homer, 1998).

Hector

Hector is the mightiest warrior in the Trojan army. He is the first and the only Trojan to set fire to an Achaean ship. But, like the other two characters analyzed above, Hector also maintains attitude which ordinary people would never be proud of. He demonstrates a certain cowardice when he flees Great Ajax. He is able to recover his courage only after receiving the insults of his comrades. Moreover, he can also become emotionally carried thereby enable him to treat other people with rash cruelty. He also has the tendency to do foolish judgments like when he ordered the Trojans to camp outside Troy's walls the night before Achilles returns to battle, thus causing a crucial downfall the next day (Homer, 1998).

Clearly, the characters and personalities that Homer used in "Iliad" are reflections of the kind of people that the western Civilization has. Brave, courageous, dominant, God-fearing, leaders, warriors and much more are just some of the human attributes that the people of Western Civilization learned from the ancient Greeks literature like Homer's Iliad.

On Labor, Service and Beauty

It is written in the Greek's culture to pay the people for the labor or service they have rendered. And the Western people followed this idea. This labor code has been legalized for so many years now and has been amended several times all for the benefit of the working population. It is not only the Western civilization who has been benefited by this idea from the Greeks but also most, if not all, countries around the world.

In terms of aesthetic ideals, the Greeks have also greatly influenced the Western world. The use of marbles in building big and creatively crafted structures first came from the Greeks. Because even the Western people can attest for the marble's credibility in making strong buildings and houses (most are still standing now), they too followed using this material.

This too, is shown in Homer's "Iliad." The use of strong castles, houses and even armaments are significant part of the novel that contributed a great learning to the Western Civilization.

Conclusion

It is very obvious that Greek's culture and literature had left an enormous impact to the Western civilization, and Homer did a good job in contributing a big aspect of such. In fact, most will agree that Greeks greatly influenced the world. The Greeks have left a legacy to many countries around the globe... A legacy with which no time can destroy. A legacy that will remain useful to the Western civilization. A legacy that will never perish.