The Living Iliad

All in all, The Iliad is about the human condition. It tells a story that is relatable to any audience. What does it mean to be human? It begins with an argument over respect and tarnished pride, and ends with two funerals and communal mourning. Despite the distance of time between the 21st century CE to the 2nd millennia BCE, the story remains relevant. It tells the trauma of loss and the consequence of pride. It centers around the inevitability and dealing with mortality. It shows a hero that is neither good nor bad, but simply human. It shows a father holding his infant son, and it shows a father kissing the hand of his son's enemy in the quest to retrieve his child.

Why is The Iliad significant?

Beyond its relatability just from the themes within, it marks one of the most significant beginnings of Western culture. Homer's works have influenced our cultural works from Virgil's Aeneid to the Percy Jackson series. For much of Western history, Homer has been a primary part of the education that taught our artists, writers, politicians, philosophers, and other great thinkers. Today, the culture and history within the epics spark imagination and inspiration. This enthusiasm may bring the reader dangerously close to glorifying The Iliad. This urge must be fought. Learn The Iliad and its own context. Identify the history in the literature. Link yourself to your past and use it carefully today.

CRITICAL THINKING:

How do you identify with The Iliad?