The Key, Underlying Elements Portrayed in the Iliad

In the Trojan War, it is clear that the prevailing view is that humans are at the mercy of the gods. In The Iliad, the Trojan War arises from a conflict among the gods, and the outcome is ultimately decided by the gods themselves. The gods have human-like characteristics, as they watch over their favorite mortals and have love affairs with them. Some of the gods are not as virtuous and admirable, but are rather flawed, akin to the similarities of their human counterparts. However, there is a unique distinction between the mortals and deity. Throughout The Iliad, Homer describes the relationships between the gods, relationships between the gods and mortals, and the encompassing effect fate has an all characters.

One of the key themes in The Iliad is the role divine intervention plays throughout the narrative. Divine intervention occurs frequently throughout The Iliad, and the result can be either catastrophic or fortunate. When Chryses pleads to Agamemnon for his daughter Chryseis' safe return, Agamemnon refrains from doing so. Therefore, Chryses appeals to Apollo to spread a plague on the Achaian camp as an act of revenge. There is this perception that the gods intervene in human affairs to help serve personal motives. On the other hand, the intent of intervention is for the gods to facilitate the hands of fate. Although the gods know that they do not have the ability to manipulate fate, their overwhelming emotions often lead them to meddle in the affairs of the humans. The relationship between the gods and mortals addressed by Plato suggests that piety is the main issue that bridges the mortals and the gods. Hector exemplifies this role, as he is a man of compassion and piety. His behavior is