The Role of Destiny in Homer's Iliad
Added on 2023-06-05
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Running head: GURVIR SINGH DHANESAR
THE ROLE OF DESTINY IN HOMER’S ILIAD
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:
THE ROLE OF DESTINY IN HOMER’S ILIAD
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:
1
GURVIR SINGH DHANESAR
Destiny has been a constant theme for authors, poets, dramatists and playwrights since
time immemorial. Destiny has been used as a central theme in many novels, poems and other
forms of literature. Human beings have always been intrigued by the power of destiny,
represented in the epic as the Moira, or the deities responsible for establishing order and control
destiny of men. Their ability to dominate the course of human life and actions. The controlling
factors of human lives has been a debatable topic since ancient times. The soldiers in Homer’s
Iliad know that their destiny is unchangeable but their death, is inevitable. In fact, even Gods do
not have direct control on moira. They are the enforcers of destiny. Men have free will to either
abide by the laws of destiny or take their separate paths. In Iliad, moira plays a significant role in
deciding the ultimate outcome of man’s destiny.
In the very beginning of Illiad, it is said that:
“and its devastation, which put pains thousand fold upon the Achaians, hurled in their multitudes
to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of
dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished” (Homer 1.1-5)
The theme of destiny is strongly represented through the line and continues to be a central theme
throughout the entire story. The control of the Moira is inescapable. It can be escaped by neither
dead or alive, “neither brave man or coward”. The mortals have depended on prophets since
ages. These prophets have always told that the happenings of one’s life is predestined and no one
can control the forces of destiny. Kalchas, described as the greatest among all the seers predicts
that the city is Troy is awaiting its inevitable doom. While many find providence to be a
motivating factor behind their fight in the war, others believe that destiny can be conquered.
Regardless of what they believe in, everyone wants to live a life of honor and leave behind a
GURVIR SINGH DHANESAR
Destiny has been a constant theme for authors, poets, dramatists and playwrights since
time immemorial. Destiny has been used as a central theme in many novels, poems and other
forms of literature. Human beings have always been intrigued by the power of destiny,
represented in the epic as the Moira, or the deities responsible for establishing order and control
destiny of men. Their ability to dominate the course of human life and actions. The controlling
factors of human lives has been a debatable topic since ancient times. The soldiers in Homer’s
Iliad know that their destiny is unchangeable but their death, is inevitable. In fact, even Gods do
not have direct control on moira. They are the enforcers of destiny. Men have free will to either
abide by the laws of destiny or take their separate paths. In Iliad, moira plays a significant role in
deciding the ultimate outcome of man’s destiny.
In the very beginning of Illiad, it is said that:
“and its devastation, which put pains thousand fold upon the Achaians, hurled in their multitudes
to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of
dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished” (Homer 1.1-5)
The theme of destiny is strongly represented through the line and continues to be a central theme
throughout the entire story. The control of the Moira is inescapable. It can be escaped by neither
dead or alive, “neither brave man or coward”. The mortals have depended on prophets since
ages. These prophets have always told that the happenings of one’s life is predestined and no one
can control the forces of destiny. Kalchas, described as the greatest among all the seers predicts
that the city is Troy is awaiting its inevitable doom. While many find providence to be a
motivating factor behind their fight in the war, others believe that destiny can be conquered.
Regardless of what they believe in, everyone wants to live a life of honor and leave behind a
2
GURVIR SINGH DHANESAR
legacy of valor. Zeus, the king of Gods, takes the sides of the Trojans and helps them. He does
everything possible in his power to help the Trojans. However, he cannot change the course of
their moira or destiny. In the text it is found that Zeus fails to save his own son, Sarpendon, from
being killed by Patroclus. Whether or not Gods can alter moira no one knows but the three
Moirai decide the destiny of man is the long known truth. The Gods, in Iliad, are predisposed
towards the characters in the epic, which makes them deceiving and immoral. They are involved
in unscrupulous deeds like lying, raping, plundering and using innocent mortals as pawns for
their entertainment. The epic has kept gods and destiny at separate ends and tried to establish a
relationship between them. The story hence, revolves around destiny and the acts of the gods.
Even the gods at times fail in front of destiny
The wife of Zeus, Hera is shown to be biased towards the Achaeans and along with her daughter,
Athena plots against the Trojans whom she detests. Thus, the Gods try to manipulate the course
of destiny in the epic indirectly. The Gods acts as the enablers and the enforcers of destiny. On
the other hand, mortals utilize their skills and qualities to meet their predestined destiny. After
seeing the losses suffered by the Greeks, Agamemnon, instead of apologizing for his destructive
anger blames moira, or the deities of destiny and Zeus as the cause of all the upheaval and
turmoil that he fails to understand is that though the forces of destiny control the lives of man, it
can only impose its power if man surrenders to it willingly. Free will of humans might get
restricted at times but it does not completely disappear.
“Like the generations of leaves, the lives of mortal men. Now the wind scatters the old leaves
across the earth, now the living timber bursts with the new buds and spring comes round again.
And so with men: as one generation comes to life, another dies away.” (II. 170-171)
GURVIR SINGH DHANESAR
legacy of valor. Zeus, the king of Gods, takes the sides of the Trojans and helps them. He does
everything possible in his power to help the Trojans. However, he cannot change the course of
their moira or destiny. In the text it is found that Zeus fails to save his own son, Sarpendon, from
being killed by Patroclus. Whether or not Gods can alter moira no one knows but the three
Moirai decide the destiny of man is the long known truth. The Gods, in Iliad, are predisposed
towards the characters in the epic, which makes them deceiving and immoral. They are involved
in unscrupulous deeds like lying, raping, plundering and using innocent mortals as pawns for
their entertainment. The epic has kept gods and destiny at separate ends and tried to establish a
relationship between them. The story hence, revolves around destiny and the acts of the gods.
Even the gods at times fail in front of destiny
The wife of Zeus, Hera is shown to be biased towards the Achaeans and along with her daughter,
Athena plots against the Trojans whom she detests. Thus, the Gods try to manipulate the course
of destiny in the epic indirectly. The Gods acts as the enablers and the enforcers of destiny. On
the other hand, mortals utilize their skills and qualities to meet their predestined destiny. After
seeing the losses suffered by the Greeks, Agamemnon, instead of apologizing for his destructive
anger blames moira, or the deities of destiny and Zeus as the cause of all the upheaval and
turmoil that he fails to understand is that though the forces of destiny control the lives of man, it
can only impose its power if man surrenders to it willingly. Free will of humans might get
restricted at times but it does not completely disappear.
“Like the generations of leaves, the lives of mortal men. Now the wind scatters the old leaves
across the earth, now the living timber bursts with the new buds and spring comes round again.
And so with men: as one generation comes to life, another dies away.” (II. 170-171)
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