Discuss symbolism and its effectiveness in the Iliad Essay

symbol plays a crucial role in The Iliad. Take for instance when Achilles already knows why Apollo is angry, tho decides the reddent should be verbalise by some one(a) separate than himself. He knows that Agamemnon allow for be get it on angry at once the justice is revealed. I believe that in this instance he is hard to contain his passionateness in check by avoiding a direct confrontation with Agamemnon so although the symbolism of anger is present it is kept under wraps. Calchas besides frights for his middle because he also knows Agamemnons fury is dark at times.However, with a great ingest of encou force ment from Achilles, Calchas spoke out, bravely Bew be-The divinitys angry because Agamemnon spurned his priest (106). When the truth is exposed, Agamemnon becomes extremely angry and he and Achilles argue. The wrinkle becomes so heated that Achilles is tempted to kill Agamemnon. Achilles questions himself, Should he draw the long sharp trade name slung a t his hip, thrust finished the ranks and kill Agamemnon nowor check his rage and beat his fury down (108). Here, Hera has genus A hencee intervene to keep Achilles from killing Agamemnon, which shows how the gods domination Achilles muckle.The short letter between Achilles and Agamemnon clearly shows that the deuce men have different opinions nigh the power of the gods, what is holy or unholy, and what is good treatment of other men. These differences ar one source of Achilles rages likewise the issues pertaining to power and gods atomic number 18 universe symbolised. Achilles is also angry at having to advertize another(prenominal) mans struggle. The Trojan War is being fought because genus Paris stole Helen, Agamemnons sister-in-law.In his argument with Agamemnon, Achilles channelises out It wasnt Trojan spearmen who brought me hither to fight. The Trojans never did me damage, not in the least(prenominal) (107). Achilles rage heightens in the argument and he declares No, you colossal, shamelesswe all followed you, to please you, to fight for you, to win your honor back from the TrojansMenelaus and you, you dog-face (108). Achilles is also angry because even though he and many other soldiers are on that point dangering their lives for Agamemnon and Menelaus, Agamemnon is sly enough to avoid personal injury.Achilles says to Agamemnon, Never once did you arm with the march and go to meshing or risk an ambush packed with Achaeas picked menyou lack the courage, you can see cobblers last coming (109). The Trojan War is being fought for personal reasons. Achilles rage at this point stems from the injustice that he is risking his life for individual elses cause and also for the fact that Agamemnon is a coward. The argument between Achilles and Agamemnon has deep-seeded grow of jealousy, another and symbol emotion that stirs anger.Agamemnon knows that Achilles has the evaluate of the soldiers and the gods therefore, Agamemnon is always striving to prove his transcendency and powerfulness to Achilles. Agamemnon agrees to give Chryseis back to the priest, but then retreats Brisies from Achilles. Achilles allows Agamemnons men to dash Brisies without a fight in arrangement to maintain the respect of the gods however, after Brisies is taken, Achilles becomes so enraged and heart worried that he reaffirms his settlement not to fight anyto a greater extent.Achilles declares that Agamemnon is to blame for the cen sealed of the Achaean military if the day should come when the armies need me to save their ranks from ignominious, stark batter (112). Jealousy, then, can be viewed as another source of Achilles rage. The issues being symbolised here are emotional and touching. Achilles is heartbroken and calls on his mother, the goddess Thetis. She is paltry when she hears Achilles prayers and weeping. Achilles knows that he is going live a short life and now feels that his life has no honor. He feels that the gods have forsa ken him by allowing Agamemnon to humiliate him.Achilles wants his mother to collect on an old debt from Zeus. Thetis is saddened by Achilles heartbreak and confirms his destiny, ill-omened to a short life, you have so little time. And not only short, now, but filled with heartbreak too (114). She leaves Achilles to go invite Zeus to let the Trojan army win as long as Achilles is not fighting. Achilles is left alone, his heart exasperate for the sashed and have it offly girl theyd wrenched from him against his testament (115). Achilles missed love and broken heart are another source of his rage. The magnetic core is symbolism is tangible.Rage is being symbolised through love and the impact leads to a broken heart. Achilles heart remains rigid against Agamemnon even when three of his dearest friends come and demand him to fight again. Phoenix, Ajax, and Odysseus plead with Achilles to join the battle again, but he refuses. The three confound the argument that even if Achilles is angry with Agamemnon, he should still come back to the fighting to foster his friends whose lives will be lost if he does not. Achilles dearest friend, Patroclus, decides to take Achilles accouterments and join the fighting.Patroclus is wounded in battle and then is killed when bully waiting, watching the great-hearted Patroclus trying to stagger free, came rushing into him right across the lines and rammed his spearshaft home. (159). It is Patroclus death that brings Achilles back to the war. Now his rage is aroused by his desire to withstand revenge against the Trojan army and, more specifically, push around. Achilles armor is lost because Hector and the Trojans take it from Patroclus dead body. This action inspires Achilles to seek Thetis help again. She has Hephaestus make innovative armor for Achilles.The new armor is magnificent. It is a great and massive shield, blazoning well-wrought emblems all across its surface (173). Thetis and other gods encourage Achilles to fight now. Apollo taunts Achilles while Hector holds fast outside the city gates. It is ability Priam who first sees Achilles coming and is filled with tutelage for Hector. Achilles appears blazing like the star that rears at harvest, flaming up in its whizz far outshining the countless stars in the dark sky (177). Hector is filled with fear as Achilles approaches the city.Achilles then chases Hector nigh the city three times. It is divine preventive by Athena that causes Hector to lastly stop and face Achilles. Zeus decides who will die in the fight as he held out his sacred deluxe scales in them he placed 2 fates of death that lays men low (181). The scales are tipped in Achilles favor and Hector looses his life. It is real clear that the gods control Achilles destiny and influence the factors that create his rage. Why is Achilles enraged? His rage is a personal choice. He decides to confront Agamemnon. He decides to withdraw from the war.He decides to join the war aft er Patroclus death. However, the gods do their parts in making true that his destiny is carried out. Thetis has new armor make for him and encourages him to fight. Apollo taunts him. Athena intervenes, first to make sure he does not kill Agamemnon and then later to make sure that he does kill Hector. Zeus weighs his fate. Rage is the sire of many emotions. Injustice, jealousy, un-holiness, revenge, and heartbreak are emotions that sparked Achilles rage. bulls eyes tale, the Iliad, shows how Achilles rage is his destiny.Symbolism is very effective throughout the novel. It is linked to emotions, love and rage.Works Cited bell ringer. The Iliad. The Norton Anthology World Masterpieces. Ed. Sarah Lawall. 7th ed. Vol. 1. W. W. Norton & deoxyadenosine monophosphate Company. New York, London, 1999. 104-209. Spark Notes the Iliad by Homer Spark Notes reading January 10, 2002 The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, gaudiness 1 by Sarah Lawall Norton 8 interlingual rendition August 15, 2005 Making Literature way out An Anthology for Readers and Writers by John Schilb Bedford/St. Martin 3 edition October 25, 2005.