Agamemnon & Achilles: Epic Heroes in Homer's Iliad - Essay Sample

Introduction

The Iliad by Homer is an epic poem that gives an exceptional background Achilles legend as well as the ten-year battle evident in the last few weeks between Trojans and Greeks. The poem is not only about kings and soldiers but also about the gods who find their source of entertainment through participation in various wars on various levels. Significantly, the pivot of the poem is captured between valuable warrior, Achilles, and Agamemnon. This paper focuses on examining Agamemnon and Achilles' argument based on Hesiod's "Theogony" support.

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Agamemnon and Hesiod's "Theogony"

The central conflict that led to an argument between Agamemnon and Achilles is over a woman, Briseis. A reward of war both of them was awarded a woman as war trophy though, Agamemnon was forced to release Chryseis, as he decides that he was entitled to, Briseis, Achille's captive. The decision offended Achilles, who refrained from fighting for him again. However, the latter did not bother about the case regardless of the impact and effect that it was going to have on the gods. In the Greek tradition, Hesiod's "Theogony" is regarded as the synthesis of numerous concepts concerning the gods that are organized in terms of a narrative. Agamemnon argues that his actions of taking Achilles' rewards were never wrong and that he was acting following the outlines of the war requirements. Although his deeds angered the latter, the Theogony depicts that such actions are every day among war victors and that Agamemnon did not do anything wrong. Similarly, according to the Greek culture and community, the gods act as the drivers of actions and issues that influence certain moves. Therefore, in Agamemnon's apology, which was related to the story of Ate and Zeus, the motion carried numerous peculiarities and oddities as portrayed in the antiquity in the remarks from Homeric scholia. However, in his anticipation of other congruent suggestions to demise his recent actions, Agamemnon remains destined that regardless the gods stop watching over that he may call his deed as unworthy.

Additionally, most actions portrayed by Agamemnon, especially the harsh treatment of his wife that was viewed as forms of infidelity, show that he never cares about results. In Hesiod's "Theogony", the author focuses on heroic figures, especially those who have attained their position through the desire for Kleos and the military. The simple evaluation, according to Agamemnon, is the assign of justice and the subtle treatment that individuals can embrace in front of the gods (Sammons, 2018). Hesiod himself is much concerned about conflict and traces the origin of humanity through a sad decline from given powerful states to miseries. The argument, according to Agamemnon, affirms that regardless of the issues and cases that might be realized among people, the providences emulated after that determines the progression and certainty. The heroes depicted by Hesiod shows the significance of the gods in giving people limitless efforts in asserting meaningful attributes to others regardless of the known consequences that might be seen. Overall, according to the Agamemnon relationship between people is built in the way he or she handles his position.

Achilles and Hesiod's "Theogony"

The rivalry that was depicted between Achilles and Agamemnon was one of its kinds. It shows the difference between reasoning and action, as well as the revocations that can be realized between different concepts. Achilles, as a great warrior, depended on thinking as a sign of heroism. Achilles and Hesiod's "Theogony" gives the latter an equal and prejudiced connotation about his position ad argument. For instance, according to the Greek god's heroism were not only based on things that one has done but instead associated with subject inclinations of the actions. From the syntactic point of view, mythical thoughts are more than all teleological concepts and can only be validated based on the works exhibited by a person. Similarly, the trajectories of performing fictitious acts constitute a measurable outcome or result in heroism. Achilles further maintained that the Theogonic myth and gods are responsible for creating the world the way they want, and no person should be associated with unnecessary rigidity and actions that never last as the case of Agamemnon. Achilles, in defending his opposition of the works done by Agamemnon for taking his trophy of war, argues that it was the least he could do to him as such acts are mainly associated with unnecessary provocation. Although the gods might recommend it as worthwhile and should never be treated with strong emotions, according to Hardy (2019), it does not show signs of respect (Hardy, 2019). In "Theogony" by Hesiod, the author argues that compliance is mandatory in all traditions, and the leader should respect his or her juniors to bring cohesion. For instance, Achilles, after convincing Agamemnon to return the girl, used spirited actions to protect his position and the tradition of his people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Achilles also maintained that regardless of the attempts to end the war peacefully as needed by Agamemnon, skills and spiritual backups are required to ascertain the expected result. For instance, in "Theogony", the kings and singers appropriate themselves through a reserved sacred kingship in speculating theories. The voice of gods is can, therefore, only be used to determine rational authority means as opposed to articulating realities that never existed. Overall, Achilles depended on the visible signs portrayed by the gods to evaluate his or her relationship with others as opposed to the irrational means used by Agamemnon.

References

Hardy, C. S. (2019). MULROY Aeschylus: the Oresteia. Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, and the Holy Goddesses. A Verse Translation with Introduction and Notes. Pp. xx+ 234. Madison, WI, and London: The University of Wisconsin Press, 2018. Paper, US $19.95. ISBN: 978-0-299-31564-1.

Sammons, B. (2018). Hesiod's Theogony and the Structures of Poetry. In The Oxford Handbook of Hesiod (p. 95). Oxford University Press.