Gender and Sexuality in War

Gender and Sexuality in War

Friday, October 9, 2015

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.

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