Honor in the Illiad

One major theme of The Iliad is honor. Achilles, Agamemnon, and the other warriors are obsessed with the idea of honor. They want to portray themselves as larger-than-life heroes and they live according to a heroic moral code. This code emphasizes courage, boldness, skill in battle, loyalty, and respect for earned status. However, Agamemnon and Achilles have been at odds with each other because of the status and honor each holds. They are both very …showed first 75 words of 361 total…

…showed last 75 words of 361 total…behavior requires a balancing act between passion and wisdom. However, by putting pride ahead of the needs of the army and people, Achilles and Agamemnon allow rage to overcome, wisdom and sense of duty. This is considered a dishonorable act on both parts. Achilles must learn to channel his rage into acts of courage, without allowing it to subsume his behavior. Agamemnon must learn to be less arrogant and to respect other people’s honor.