Question 1...

Character,

War at Its Finest

War

   In what i have come to understand is that people who go to war, change not for the worst but for the better not in a sense that the war is a good thing. People who face danger would definitely try to amend ones ways to survive the struggle that he will have come to face. War does not spoil the character of individual person's participating in it, As spoil/destroy define as  to ruin completely or to impair its qualities. As never will there be such a thing such that a soldier fighting to protect his countrymen from invading armies to be something morally wrong. 

Iliad: Using the book of Iliad ill be providing my ideas about how wars affect people's character who share their part in it .

   In terms of  war,  men develops their individualities. Achaean s and Spartans protect their integrity whenever they go to war as they defend their Countries from being alienated or bondage from their rights. 

   When Hector  Challenged the Achaean to a one on one battle none of them wanted it(Achilles was still not joining the war) none of them better Hector in a fight.The fight was deemed suicidal *It was not stated in the book but we could conclude that everyone thinks its a death wish because none of them can fight with hector, therfore they will be fighting for their lives with assurance to death*. Despite all of this fear Menelaus stepped forward even knowing he is bound to lose he stayed collected and showed how he will face something greater than he is to protect his countries dignity. A sign of good character! A daring act from Menelaus and this act was indeed seemed to them as a suicidal act and therefore his brother stopped him and said;

Quote page 97 book 7 Iliad trans by W.H.D rouse

"You are mad, Menelaus, and what is the use of madness like that? Hold Back, however hard it is, and don't fight a better man than yourself just for a challenge! Every one dreads Hector Priamedes . Even Achilles shudders to meet this man in battle, and he is a much better man than you. Just sit down among your friends......."

   This words from his brother Agamemnon convince him to stop, But in that instance Nestor rose and spoke about how he was disappointed for the Achaean to cower from the fight with hector. Nestor with his convincing speech(You can read it at The Iliad of Homer Translated by W.H.D. Rouse BOOK 7 Page 97-98 quite long so i did not quote it chances are you might get bored reading it*), there 9 people rose up! as it was deemed a suicidal fight we could undoubtedly say that this nine people had there prides humiliated and wanted to compensate for it. With bravery far beyond a normal person will have, as not everyone will do something knowing death is a certainty their character improved from the worst as they come to face the challenges life throws at them.

Without this war they might not have change and that is my opinion about it.




   War Improves ones character and does not spoil nor even destroys but  keep in mind that even great people do deleterious act.

Sum up your courage and be the first!

 War will never be a good thing!

That war is fought by best of mens to do the worst possible thing this individual can do.


The end DOES not justify the means. As killing will never be RIGHT and PROPER whatever reason it may be.

                                                                                      ETHICS of war?   

The Iliad (by Homer)

Menalaus and Paris(Alexandros)

  After reading the 1-5 books of the Iliad i could clearly state my opinion about both of this characters. Alexandros which is commonly known for the name as Paris I presume
is the lesser of the two in terms of nobility and honor.
Paris cowered from a fight after seeing Menelaus coming out.

    Quote from the Iliad, translated by W.H.D. Rouse/page 40 line 4-9
     
   "But as soon as Alexandros saw him come out(Menelaus) in front, his heart sank and he slunk back into the ranks to save     himself. He might have been some one walking through the woods who suddenly sees a snake, and jumps back all of a tremble pale with fear. So Alexandros jumped back, and so he slunk into safety, "

Though in the end both still clashed sword and they fought for some reason, Menelaus fought for his love that was stolen by Paris. While Paris fights for his lust for flesh of helen
(Helen still loved Menelaus as she said in the book that she still longed for her husband of the OLD days).
This unrequited love that have brought bloodshed and chaos to both sides could never be called an honorable deed it was a selfish act from Paris himself.
While Menelaus stands firm and fights for what was rightly his.

In terms of strength Menelaus still is greater compared to Paris between their duel
clearly Menelaus is the winner Aphrodite herself has to save Paris from death.  After losing the fight even having the oath to give Helen back and her wealth with it. Paris on the bed forgot about it and continued to suppress Helen from her will through the power of the goddess Aphrodite.

A you tube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNwuhjqSLCc, from the Movie of Troy 2004, It is heavily change when it was from the books storyline to the film on how it depicts the event and characters attitude toward the development of the war.
Paris is depicted here as a noble person unlike Menelaus who would seem to be the one wrong in here. The movie was made for the better taste of the audience which is sad for most of people like me who like watching more than reading to be honest. And get the wrong information's about this stuffs.

Though they made one right part of it how Menelaus beat Paris down though Menelaus really did not die from the hands of hector to save Paris or even is hector the one that saves Paris from a certain death it was goddess Aphrodite.


Paris--->Would be P-noy or known as President Aquino, He backed down from his promise of no tax increase and such amazingly within his term in just a short time a sudden surge of increase is happening. Like the oath taken by Paris to Menelaus that is if he loses Helen and her wealth will return to Menelaus.

Menelaus--->Siting a person who was like menelaus powerful and fights for what is his? I would say it would be the poor people who tries there best not the ones who are lazy, that are strip of from their rights and struggle to attain what was theirs, Some of those are people who strive to achieve success though scammed by people who are greedy enough to destroy a life.

Hera(Wife of Zeus the king of immortals)


 Fair? equal?

 All of this statement would be base on what i have read from books 1-5 and nothing more.
In what i have come to understand that Hera herself is not unfair most might not agree to it but when i do see it, How would be one unfair? She joins the side wherein she is revered, i will do that as well and I am sure some of the people will.
She had more reasons to join the battle its her hatred towards Paris who chose Aphrodite.
So gods themselves can choose what they want. In terms of battle i would say that she is not unfair/fair she fights for her reasons and she has the power to do it and that will never make a fight unfair


Gods in the book are not cheat like in the game that make the game easier but they are a different entity from humans. As an example if America had Nuke's and they used it in japan who had none, that does not make it unfair but it just show that the other side has something more than the others. They got the technology to build it. Same with both sides having more gods supporting them as they gave more respect, a bad example but it makes my point a lot easier to convey



Most Gods join wars they pick who they have to help to and we do as well pick the one we want to be on being more powerful or more in numbers does not make it unfair
Hera didnt fight Ares in the battle, he let athena fight ares. maybe to not outnumber him 2 to 1?

Wars will never be unfair unless there were rules to be followed as such none was placed and never will be one for a war.

Have you heard of a war that both sides have to have the same amount of troops?

King Agamemnon

    King Agamemnon told the priest that begged to him to be off and that it is stated in the book he said it in harsh words "Don't  Let me find you here any more, you; don't stay now and don;t come again, or else your staff and sacred wreaths may not protect you. The woman i will not release! She will live to old age in our house, far away in Argos, working the loom and lying in my bed. Begone now! don;t provoke me, or it will be the worse for you."

After that numerous of arrows poured down on his camp for 9 days and on the 10th they had a conference that was summoned by Achilles himself. At the conference king Agamemnon was found at fault and the only way to do it was to give the woman back, the thought of having the woman is rightly his or the thought of his pride for being a king made him reluctant to  give up the girl but in the end was persuaded.

But his pride was still there he took Briseis the of Achilles to compensate for his lose. A stubborn act from a king who wants everything.

Though i do not blame him for it, he was a King and should act as one in his time it was therer custom to give a large portion of the loot. And if you were to become a king who will give up everything he has? It will just show signs of weakness and therefore would endanger you and your country. Kings do need to show power and pride at that times as they are seen as the one who will protect the people unlike in our times that wars is unlikely to happen around the corner in a matter of time .Kings should also never be disrespected by there officer.  

Agamemnon----> I would say that would be most of us like me, I force what i want and sadly I sometimes forget im the one at wrong.




Short summary of Troy :)