Honor or (too much) Pride?

Honor is a powerful role in The Iliad, though, in some parts of the Epic, it can be mistaken for pride.

Through the poem we are well aware of the power-hold these men have on moral women, and it can easily play a role in any big-headedness these men may contain. In the poem it is repeatedly stated that the warriors refuse to give up on the war, no matter how severe their losses are, because their honor must remain intact.

I believe the word "honor", is used for the lack of the term "pride".

Pride seems to be a better fit for this novel, or poem, based on the sole fact that they are fully aware of the, for the lack of a better term, idolization by other women in the poem. The way women are expected to be treated play a very large role in their pride, or as the author seems to pout it, honor.

It may also be seen as a tactic/reason to be in the war in the first place. Honor/Pride gives them a purpose and reason to pursue the women in this poem and therefore eggs them on even more.

The reason for the continuation of the war seems to be the fact that these warriors hold too much honor, more than what is bestowed on them, in order to feed their self-esteem.

Introduction

Hello to the public!

I will be using this blog to connect Sexuality and Gender (inequality) to the times of The Iliad.

I first found my interests in Gender/Sexuality during my junior year of high school. I was enrolled in a Women Studies class and left the class with a more specific interest and a more accepting/open mind than my previous years. I was educated in not only the field in which focused on the inequality of women, but also the different struggles different ethnic/social groups of women faced. We not only focused on Women inequality, but also focused on the troubles LGBTQ+ members faced throughout the years, even to this day.

While reading The Iliad and researching the time in which it was written, plenty of questions began to surface.

In the 1920's we were introduced to Flappers, whom were women who rebelled against the idea of being the "ideal" woman. Were there women in the times of Homer who were independent? Who refused to be looked at/talked to the way their society taught them was acceptable?

There was a time in which homosexuality was not frowned upon. There were various occasions homosexual acts were indulged in. Was homosexuality frowned upon in the times of The Iliad? If not, what changed throughout the years to result in Sexuality being such a controversial topic? Why is it no longer considered a "norm"?

These are only some of the questions that have popped into mind while reading The Iliad. Only a preview of what the blog will consist of.