Iliad and Community Roles

Community: The Iliad Although much of the Iliad focuses on the soldiers who are battling outside the walls of Troy, a significant part of the reading of this work occurs within the city or within the Greek camp and shows the soldiers in context of their own communities. This work in writing will choose one figure either Trojan or Greek and explain how he fits into the community and the role that is played by this individual in relation to other people in his side of the conflict.

For the purpose of this study the role of the Greek individual will be chosen for examination. Greek Community Honor and glory are reported in the work of Texin (2004) to be "central to the Greek character." (p. 1) In fact, Texin (2004) reports that it is none other than "honor and glory [which] trigger an epic war that takes the lives of numerous men, and shape its development at every stage" in the Iliad. (p. 1) Glory was realized by the Greek individual through "great, heroic actions and deeds." (Texin, 2004, p.

1) Major battles such as that in the Iliad made provision of the opportunity for the realization of glory. Texin reports that honor, while "similar to glory" the maintenance of a "sense of person honor" on the part of the individual "did not always coincide with honor as defined or perceived by the masses." (2004, p. 1) Honor was realized through not only being heroic in battle but as well through speechmaking that was compelling in nature as well as through "loyalty and other noble qualities a person might demonstrate." (Texin, 2004, p.

1) when the Greek individual possessed honor and glory they were enabled to attain influence in their community and society. In the Iliad, an argument occurs over the possibility of a retreat during which a respected fighter, Odysseus states that it is "disgraceful to wait long and at the end to go home empty-handed (Homer, Iliad 2.297)." (cited in Texin, p. 2) The message of Odysseus is received well.

Simultaneously, a man who was greatly despised widely, Thersites gives advice to the army to go home and much to the delight of the crowd that has gathered Thersites is "struck down by Odysseus." (Texin, 2004, p. 2) Therefore, the honor and respect that is afforded to Odysseus due to his achievements is reported to give enough weight to Odysseus's argument that Thersites is not even allowed the opportunity to respond. II.

Greek Individual in the Community It is clear that the role of the Greek individual in the community during the battle occurring in the Iliad, when respected as was Odysseus is a role that includes advisor and authority. Odysseus was an authoritative figure in the community who was respected and whose advice was strongly heeded.

The role of the Greek soldier during the events of the battle taking place in the Iliad was one of leadership and in this capacity the Greek soldier possessing honor and respect was able to guide the community's.