Conflicts Between Fathers and essays

Conflicts Between Fathers and essays The respect that a father receives as head of the family is obvious in the Iliad. Not only is the father the primary concern in the Iliad, but also the paternal expectations are the basis for the heroic code. However, women in the Iliad are a contradiction to the fathers in the beliefs that the heroic code is not the most important aspect of the warriors' lives. The warrior comes after the king in the social structure. Although he ranks second, the warrior has a powerful position in society. The warrior is dependent on the community for glory and commemoration because that is the only way he can reach the status of a "hero." The thought of being a hero is every warrior's dream. In order to obtain that goal, the warriors followed a heroic code, a set of rules, which have the potential to elevate a reputation to that of a hero. The code incorporates many regulations, but the biggest part of the heroic code comes from the paternal endorsement of the father. With the opening of the poem, we see how important that father's name is in describing the identity of the hero. Agamemnon, in his first introduction to the reader, is referred to as "Atreus' son."(1.8). Genealogy even has the power to cease battle between enemies. Such is the case with Diomedes, challenged by Glaukos on the battlefield, who questions him about his descent. After Glaukos has given the full story of his ancestry, Diomedes realizes that their grandfathers have been friends and says, "Why, you are my friend! My grandfather, Oineus, made friends of us long ago"(6.119-121). Because of their grandfathers' friendship, it was understood that they were to be friends as well. The paternal expectations addressed to the son consist of what the son has to live up to in order to please the wishes of his father. The son must be a great warrior, surpassing the strength and greatness of his father. He must never shame the generations of his fathers. Hektor illu...