The Role Of Women In The Iliad
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The role of Women in the Iliad
Throughout history, women have held many different roles in society. Men have traditionally been viewed as superior since the beginning of time. Homers Iliad is an excellent example of the suppressive role of women at this time. Women were treated merely as property and were used for producing material within the household. Paralyzed by their unfortunate circumstances, they were taken and given as if they were material belongings. In Homers Iliad, we conceive how women are introduced as suppliants to the masculine heroines. They are depicted as being inferior to men both physically and intellectually. Throughout the Iliad, women play a modest but important role that embodies their relative significance and the impact they have on the affairs that take place.
The Iliad began with a argument between Achilles and Agamemnon over Briseis, who was considered a war prize. One of the many advances of the Greek army was the raiding of a Trojan allied town. They brought back the spoils and divided them equally among the warriors. Agamemnons prize was Chryseis, the daughter of a priest of the god Apollo. Achilles reward was a maiden named Briseis. Both women were taken against their will. Unfortunately for Agamemnon, Chryseis father pleaded for his daughter to be released and offered vast amounts of riches as ransom. Agamemnon was not pleased and dismissed him with harsh words:
Dont let me ever catch you, old man, by these ships again,
Skulking around now or sneaking back later.
The gods staff and ribbons wont save you next time.
The girl is mine, and shell be an old woman in Argos
Before I let her go, working the loom in my house
And coming to my bed, far from her homeland.
Now clear out of her before you make me angry! [Iliad 1. 34-40]
The example of Chryseis and Briseis was a critical reminder of what will become of the women of Troy should the Greeks succeed in taking Troy. Both Agamemnon and Achilles thought they earned these two innocent women as their personal mistresses. They believed they proved themselves as the worthiest warriors and deserved more spoils than the other cowardly warriors. Chryseis and Briseis did not have any control in the situation they were in.
Chryseis father, Chryses, prayed to Lord Apollo to punish the Greeks. Although Chryses seemed to love his daughter, she is still being perceived as an asset in a world where men dominate. At this time, Chryseis would have been worth more if married off rather then being captured by Agamemnon. Chryses might have gained profit from his daughter if he married her off. Considering that he had a dominate role in society if would not have been proper for his daughter to be captured as a slave. He loves Chryseis, however she was depicted as being a possession in every circumstance. She could be compared to gain in a crop, because they were fighting over her as if they needed her to survive. Apollo honored Chryses wishes and sent a great plague against the Greeks for not releasing Chryseis, which killed many men. Achilles called an assembly to end the plague and Calchas, a soothsayer, volunteered to explain the reason for Apollos anger. He reported that the deadly plague was the consequence of King Agamemnons refusal to return Chrysies to her father. Agamemnon, commander-in-chief of the expedition against Troy, was infuriated that he was publicly
named responsible for the plague. Being a man of power he did not want to end up without a war prize because he thought of himself as the deserving warrior.
Although, Chryseis was helpless, her presence had a huge impact on the outcome of the war because Agamemnon has to give her up in order to end the deadly plague. After finding this out he said:
Because I was unwilling to accept the ransom
For Chryses daughter but preferred instead to keep her
In my tent! And why shouldnt I? I like her better than
My wife Clytemnestra. Shes no worse then her
When it comes to looks, body, mind, or ability.
Still, Ill giver her back, if thats whats best.
I dont want to see the army destroyed like this.
But I want another prize ready for me right away.
Im not going to be the only Greek without a prize,
It wouldnt be right. And you all see where mind is going. [Iliad 1. 119-129]
Agamemnons speech is an excellent example of how women were employed and treated as possessions. He even goes as far as insulting his own wife, demonstrating the lack of respect men had toward women at this time. The marriage between Agamemnon and Clytemnestra did not involve love. He sees her as his property and does not respect her as is wife.
Agamemnon agrees to give up Chryseis; however, he insist on taking Briseis, Achilles war prize. At this point, Achilles is so infuriated and dishonored that he nearly kills Agamemnon and pulls his troops out of the battle against the Trojans because he feels as though he deserves his prize. Briseis is rarely mentioned; however, her role is extremely important throughout the Iliad because it caused the rage of Achilles. When Agamemnon takes Briseis, he is humiliating Achilles and disgracing his position in the social order. After all, the heroic Achilles is only fighting to help Menelaus repossess his wife, Helen, who ran off with Paris. Achilles responds to Agamemnons decision by saying:
You shameless, profiteering excuse for a commander!
How are you going to get any Greek warrior