The Role of Destiny in Homer's Iliad

This article explores the theme of destiny in Homer's Iliad and how it affects the lives of mortals and immortals. It discusses the role of Moira, the deities responsible for establishing order and controlling the destiny of men, and how even the gods cannot alter or control destiny. The article also touches upon the concept of free will and personal honor that every Greek hero clings to. 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.

Running head: GURVIR SINGH DHANESAR
THE ROLE OF DESTINY IN HOMER’S ILIAD
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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

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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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This quote greatly symbolizes the use of destiny in the epic. This quote is the acceptance of
destiny as a normal and natural process can be seen to again bring the predominant theme to the
front. An example can be given of Achilles, who is aware of his inescapable providence yet he
chooses to do everything that will lead to his damnation. He has the option of retreating from the
war front with his lost glory or die fighting with his honor intact. Achilles chooses to face his
death with an indomitable spirit. It is the Greek philosophy and ideal to live their lives with
honor. They believe in the concept of astounding fame even after death. There is also a sense of
personal honor that every Greek hero clings to. The Gods deliberately create pandemonium when
they see that humans are going against the laws of destiny. Instead of allowing Achilles to kill
Hector, Zeus and the demi Gods descend down to create more commotion in the battlefield.
Zeus, instigated by fear and concern for Achilles, asks his brother and daughter to join the war to
save the life of Achilles. Thus, even Gods cannot alter or control destiny.
Neither the mortals nor the immortals have power over forces of destiny. The future is constantly
changing. The warriors and the immortals worry about the future, plan for the future and try to
predict the future. As if being certain about the future will somehow cushion the fatalistic blow.
The entire poem is a destruction in progress. The inability of the mortals and the immortals to
change their prescribed destiny is well established. The characters in the poem suffer in the
hands of moira. They learn to see things from a different perspective and it also affects their
decision making. Homer relates death with the deities of order and destiny called the Moira.
When Hector sees his damnation approaching him, he understands it is because the Gods wanted
it to be so. In the epic even Zeus feels helpless when he sees his favorite man, his mortal son
Sarpendon is about to die. The poet has treated death synonymous with destiny. Moira is seen as
an active force present in all the affairs of life. Zeus, Moira and Erinys come together to spurn

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madness in Agamemnon’s heart. The helplessness of man after a certain point of time before
destiny has been frequently portrayed through the epic. However, the free will of man giving him
an option to confront and change the course of destiny has also been well established.
“Poor Andromache! Why does your heart sorrow so much for me? No man is going to hurl me to
Hades, unless it is fated, but as for fate, I think no man has yet escaped it once it has taken its
first form, neither brave man nor coward.” (II. 486-489)
The quote is the dialogue of Hector, commander of the army, who is trying to console his wife as
he is going to inevitably die soon. Hence, it can be seen that once again the role of destiny is
coming to the forefront in the course of the epic. Destiny is the ultimate strategist of the downfall
of the city of Troy and the Trojan War. The Greek Gods acts as evil manipulators who try to
twist the course of destiny either to help man or bring his nemesis. They control men by subtle
methods of divinity like dreams, impulses, anger, emotions and more. Though the Gods fail
miserably and have to give in to the cosmic force that controls the lives of mortals and them
alike, they still try to annihilate mortals in every way possible.

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References
Homer., and Pauline Francis. Illiad. Evans Publishing Group, 2012.