Analysis Of Characters Portrayal In Homer’s Poems
People relate to various things throughout their lives. One of the most common things that people relate to is characters they see in movies, read about in books and poetry and view in theatre. In part it is how we learn and interact with one another. The Homeric epics for example have stood the test of time, with Homer being recognised as one of the greatest poets to have ever lived. People all over the globe, even those whom have not read these literary masterpieces, know about some of the characters contained within them. It interesting that people have held onto these pieces of literature for so long, and it raises the question of how relatable the characters in the Homeric poems are?
Homer is the author of the classic literary works of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is considered to be the greatest epic poet in history. Originally Homer’s poems were passed from generation to generation by means of oral communication; even so the poems have had a substantial impact on literature and societies throughout history. This is evidenced by their translation from Greek into almost every modern language, and because they are still the basis of many studies into ancient Greek culture, mythology and also western literature. It is difficult for historians to accurately date the works. However, it is generally accepted that the Iliad and the Odyssey were written around the eighth century BC. Additionally, there is still much debate over whether or not Homer actually existed and where he lived if he did.
Very little is known about this iconic literary figure. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Homer’s existence, the affects that his works have had on literature are unparalleled. Modernised recounts of these epic tales in films and plays are evidence of this. This speaks to the relatable nature of the characters and narratives within the epics. These epics can be considered some of the most important contributions to ancient Greek culture as well, because they provided a common set of values and narratives universal people; the hero’s journey, nobility, piety, hope, love, cunning, aspiring to live a good life and the fallibility of man to list a few.
The genius of Homer’s poetic style is referred to as the heroic hexameter. It is delineated stylistically by an unrhymed rhythmic structure that lends itself to both verbal communication and reading. Originally the poems were conveyed orally and in some cases also with a musical accompaniment. The fact that these poems were orally transmitted for a time also allows for each person whom passes the poem on to add their own stylistic flare to the way that the epic is communicated. This in turn no doubt would have elicited changes, to varying degrees, in the characters and narrative. Primarily, many of the changes that would have been made during this period of oral transmission would have been to make the characters and narrative more relatable. This in turn would allow the poet to more easily remember the characters and story, resultantly allowing audiences to relate to the characters to higher degree.
Additionally, Homer’s ability to interweave the most significant aspects of human interaction and life are some of the most important to his poetic style. An example of this is his prolific use of religious figures; figures like Zeus, Athena and Poseidon. His use of religion, primarily in stories of piety and impiety, gives us not only insight into the historical context of the epics but it would have garnered more significance in heavily religious ancient Greek societies. It also provides the modern person experiencing his poems with a foundation to relate on a personal level. This arises from modern societies having developed as a result of religious morals and ethics; Catholicism has, in large part, provided the underlying values (all life has intrinsic value) for western justice systems for example. Additionally, when reading the epics Homer does not provide personal opinions, however, he allows the reader to develop their own opinions based on the information they know and can gather about characters. A reason we do not know a great deal about Homer is because of his silence within the epics.
Another important aspect that compels the reader to relate is the complex interplay between the characters and the characters and their society. Generally this is achieved through a dialectic style that is more conversational and extends in some parts of the epics for several lines. People are able to relate more easily to a character that is reminiscent of an actual individual whose actions have consequences. This is because people understand that life is complex and nothing is ever as it may seem or as simple as it may seem. Homer’s ability to do this seamlessly, with stories involving the gods interfering in the lives of man, is still today a marvel to modern literature buffs.
The poems present the story of the first Trojan War and an account of the ten year journey home to Ithaca for Odysseus (a Greek soldier whom fought in the battles for Troy). In the first of the two poems, the Iliad, we are presented with the characters Achilles, Agamemnon, Patroklos, Hektor, Paris (or Alexandros), Priam, and Thetis whom take central focus. Primarily the story follows Achilles during the first Trojan War, a revered Greek warrior. Achilles is one of the more relatable characters in the Iliad as he is an exemplar of a hero whom is passionate but whose faults lie in his excessive pride. But it is this aspect of the character Achilles that we are able to relate to. The complexity of his warrior character and where he sits in the overarching narrative provides us with someone to both admire and see fault in. He is rebellious and ignores cultural expectations he sees as fallacious. An example of this is his rejection/aversion to the heroic code which he views a contradictory. The heroic code was paramount in ancient Greek societies whom were continuously at war with themselves or an external foe. Thus, Achilles represents an example of an individual that embodies what they believe is right and who does not sway to the influences of his society and culture. This is admirable, but in his willingness to stand up for what he believes in he is willing to subvert the good of the army at large and endanger those closest to him. Achilles is representative of that rebellious potential within all of us that wants to stand up for what we believe in, regardless of the cost. Thus, it is the passion of his character with which he has been described that people whom read the epics find relatable.
Therefore, the Homeric epics provide exemplars of heroism, nobility, love and the fallibility of man etc. ; some of the underlying universal experiences that all individuals can resonate with. Furthermore, it is the genius of Homer, his poetic style and his ability to ground characters in gritty historical stories that educate and entertain on a societal and personal level. Thus, in conclusion, the characters presented in the Homeric epics can be considered some of the most universally relatable in all literature. A reason these texts have stood the test of time and played a role in the foundation of societies and culture today.
References
Ancientgreece. com. (2019). Homer- Ancient Greek Poet. [online] Available at: http://www. ancientgreece. com/s/People/Homer/ [Accessed 17 May 2019].
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Homer | Biography, Poems, & Facts. [online] Available at: https://www. britannica. com/biography/Homer-Greek-poet [Accessed 18 May 2019].
Fowler, R. (2014). The Cambridge companion to Homer. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, pp. 1-444.
Homer (1992). The Iliad. London, United Kingdom: Penguin Books Ltd.
Homer (2003). The Odyssey. London, United Kingdom: Penguin Books Ltd.
