Illiad

            Homer's epic, the Iliad, cam be depicted as a horrible, bloody war or a celebration of heroism brought about by the great soldiers of the Achaeans and Trojans. Many people die in vain because of arrogant and emotional decisions made by men. The war also brings out the heroic qualities of the men fighting against each other. The Iliad is one of the greatest Greek writings of all times showing both the brutality and heroism of war.
             The Iliad shows the brutality of war by the many unkindly deaths throughout the epic. Homer describes many deaths in violent, anatomic detail. The plague that Agamemnon brought upon the Achaeans is one example of the brutality of war. The plague was made because of a selfish Achilles. Other examples would be by the way Patroclus and Hector is killed. Apollo kills Patroclus because of his honor for Achilles. Hector is brutally killed by Achilles because of the death of his dear friend Patroclus. Hectors body was treated so badly after his death that it was an insult to him. Like all wars, most of the deaths serve as a purpose of showing the reader that no death is insignificant or easy.
             The characters of the Iliad have different ways of showing heroism. In the time of the Trojan War, there was an unwritten code of heroic conduct that the bravest warriors followed. Hector is a hero in his own way. Although he died in a very dreadful way, the Trojans all celebrated him as a great hero of their time. The Greeks also treat Patroclus as a hero after his death. He was given a great celebration in his honor. Achilles was possibly the most valued hero of Greek time. When Priam begs Achilles for Hectors body, they share moment of realization of what has been lost to the long war. Surprisingly, Achilles agrees to return Hectors body so he can have a proper burial. Throughout the poem, Achilles, Hector, and Patroculus all became more mature, which is why we can look back at them as being the greatest heroes of Greek times.