Fate is referred to the occurrence of an event that happen beyond one’s control in which is determined by a supernatural power. In The Iliad, Homer mentions fate quite often whether it be in regards to the characters’ lives, or the outcome of what happens when an action is done. As a result, the atmosphere of the epic itself then becomes altered and makes the poem more interesting. Although one may not have complete control over what life brings to them in the poem, they are able to influence what happens to them based on their actions.
There are many times in the play where it seems as if a man or woman has no control over their fate, however their consequences are determined based on their actions or decisions made throughout the play, and thus the character or God controls their fate. How fate is presented, the role it plays in character lives, and the outcome of the atmosphere will all be presented in this essay. The role of fate presented in the Iliad often plays a part in the characters’ lives and has a fierce influence on the atmosphere of the epic itself and the outcome of not only the characters, but the epic as well.
Generally, in the Iliad, the characters revolve around fate. The men specifically, fight thinking that it is soon time to die, and as a self-fulfilling prophecy, it will happen, however, fate determines whether they live or die. Several of the God’s, including Zeus, Apollo, and Hephaestus help determine the fate of their existence by placing them at war. Although the influence of the God’s could have affected these men at battle, there is no way they can really and truly stop fate, since fate is destined in regards to who dies and who lives.
The influences of the God’s however have the ability to manipulate their way of death. An example of this is during the Trojan War when Zeus pretty much controls the entire battle. Zeus had a plan to make Achilles glorious, and it could’ve been ruined if Hera didn’t stop him. Another example of fate being present in the epic is between Achilles and King Agamemnon. One often cannot fight fate, and most times it’s hard to alter that fate, and I’m sure if Achilles would when King Agamemnon threatened to steal Brisesis from him, he would.
The simple however disrespectful act could possibly been the reason why the Trojan War had a huge impact on both the Trojans and the Achaeans. The role of fate plays a big role in the characters lives, as they strongly believe that fate is the centre of the universe. Achilles in particular had several fates surrounding him, one being the fate known to Thetis. He knew that Achilles had two prophecies fates that his life would take on; one being that he denied going to Troy, where he would then inherit his fathers Kingdome, or the other being he dies at Troy, but is remembered as a hero forever.
As a result of Patroclus’ death, it was in Achilles fate to taking revenge upon Hektor. The quote “… Surely thus your father Peleus advised you that day when he sent you away to Agamemnon from Phthia “my child, for the matter of strength, Athene and Hera will give it if be their will” (IX. 254) explicitly shows that fate and the God’s will be able help him, or even alter his fate. His mother later assumes that he is to shortly die after Hektor, which becomes true later on in the epic.
The way fate affects the atmosphere of the epic is quite interesting. For starters, Achilles knew he was destined for glory as long as he died young however if he made it home from troy he would die without glory. As many would’ve chosen at the time, he went to Troy to become a long-lived hero. It was his destiny to do so and as a result, he became a hero. Moreover, shortly after Patroclus died Achilles killed a bunch of people after returning to war. As a reader, you can see she change in emotion if Achilles, as he become some sort of modern day Hulk.
Patroclus’ death provokes Thetis’ to motivate Achilles into killing is murderer, Hektor, knowing that it would result in losing his life. From this point on of the epic, the occurrence of Patroclus’ death holds a great deal of actions and feelings towards the Trojan War. In short, it was Achilles’ fate to kill Hektor, and Patroclus was simply a set up for Hektor, the greatest of the Trojan warriors, in order for Achilles to gain glory. In addition, another sign of fate in the epic is when Agamemnon threated to break up Achilles and Briseis.
Achilles wanted to get back at him by asking Zeus to help out the Trojans and to stop fighting in the war himself. This is fate due to the fact that if Agamemnon hadn’t threated them, then Achilles wouldn’t have had to call upon the God’s. If something is destined to happen, it will, unless you do something to alter that fate, but in most cases, you can’t fight fate. Fate plays a huge role in peoples daily lives everywhere, however fate determines where we go, whom we meet, and who we become. Fate also plays a role in whom we love, to what we are made of as we grow older, and what paths we chose to dive into.
The characters fight thinking that it is time to die, and as a self fulfilling prophecy, it will happen, however, fate determines whether the live or die. Fate strongly affects mains characters such as Achilles, Hektor, and Patroclus. Lastly, with the way everything plays out in the beginning of the epic, it affects what happens later on in the atmosphere of the epic like Achilles’ glory for example. The role of fate presented in the lliad often plays a part in the characters’ lives and has a fierce influence on the atmosphere of the epic itself and the outcome of not only the characters, but the poem as well.
