The overall summary
of what happened in the first reading section of Homer’s Iliad is
that the King of Sparta has a very beautiful daughter who everyone
wants to marry. He is very wise and assumes that one day trouble will
come after his daughter in some shape or another. To counter this the
King of Sparta forces every possible suitor in Greece to swear that
whoever Helen chooses they will be not only content with it but they
will also go to their aid if anything happens to poor Helen. Helen
ends up choosing Menelaus as her husband. Menelaus’ brother is
Agamenmon who is important later because his inflated ego is what
stops Achilles from fighting with the other Greeks. After some time
passes Helen’s father dies and Menelaus becomes the new King of
Sparta. One day a Paris son of Priam, King of Troy steals away Helen
and also empties the coffers of Greece by taking gold and jewels. I
find it interesting that even though Menelaus becomes King of Sparta
and his brother Agamemon is the Chief of all the Kings of Greece,
Paris is not only able to steal Helen but is also brave enough (or
stupid enough) to do it. I may not be a prince but I feel like that
is not only bad diplomacy but also bad military strategy as you not
only anger the citizens of Sparta (known for being ferocious
fighters) but you also anger all of Greece on account of Menelaus’
brother being the Chief of all the Kings of Greece. If I were Paris’
father, Priam the King of Troy I would have yelled at my son and then
forced him to return Helen back to Greece. After Paris steals away
Troy the Greeks form a task force to bring Helen back and they end up
sieging the city of Troy for nine very long years.
Bibliography: This reading note covers Homer's Iliad which is retold by Alfred Church.
Comments
Post a Comment