The Iliad (3)

1. The Greeks strongly believe in FATE or DESTINY, that is, nothing happens unless it is destined to be so. Does this mean that, in the Trojan War, the heroes' free and strong will to win is immaterial? Do you agree that the victories of the Trojans (in books 12 and 17) and the Greeks (in 13, 14, and 16) are all willed by the Gods? Explain your answer. Cite textual details.

It is true that some things are destined to happen, things like death and aging, but people don’t just sit and wait for these to occur. They try direly to delay and avoid them. This is just what the warriors in the Iliad are doing. Even though some know they are “destined” to lose, they don’t just take it bluntly. They put up a fight and try their best to prove fate wrong. This can be loosely translated to the phrase “Never give up without a fight”. It’s human nature for one to stubbornly try to change what they don’t like.

To answer the question of if the heroes’ rebellion against destiny is foolish, no, what they do is not hallow or of no value. They honorably defend what is theirs even if it most certainly costs them their life. Letting their land be conquered and their citizens exploited while they do nothing just because someone foretold it will have been an act of abandoning their homeland. This treachery is something that these heroes just can’t live with.

Opposing to the first idea of inevitability, hearing the reason of “willed by the gods” seems very unlikely. I don’t agree that the victory of the Trojans and the Greeks were all of accordance to the plans of their gods. What if once they found out that it was their destiny to win so they didn’t even bother to fight and assure their victory? The Trojans and the Greeks didn’t win just because it was foretold, the Trojans and the Greeks won because they fought with their whole heart and soul. Every arrow flung, sword swung and command roared counted for their victory. Destiny alone can’t decide who wins in a battle of these proportions. I believe that if their gods have foretold it, it’s up to them to fulfill it.