Journal 4

Wednesday September 15, 8pm-11pm

I simply HAD to record my use of the term aresteia today. I joined a couple of friends at their apartment to do homework tonight and was baffled at how distracted and unmotivated I was to finish my assignments. After a busy summer, learning to continue to work through exhaustion, my body was trained to get work done no matter the obstacles. The first couple of weeks in college, I was on a roll. I was at the library everyday for long periods, getting my work done and not allowing anything to distract me. I was happy to do my work, I loved all my classes (besides Statistics because I was never good at math), and I’d learned how to balance homework with my social life. Then, because of the cyber attack that shut school down for a week, my body got used to doing nothing. I got used to only hanging out with my friends and exploring the city. I got used to waking up late and staying in bed to binge watch Netflix. It honestly, (and embarrassingly) took me so long to get through my reading of “The Iliad” tonight. And not because it was boring, but because I was so used to not doing work. I told my friends tonight that I felt like the past couple of weeks I’ve been in my own aresteia. But like it was mentioned one class, aresteia’s do not last forever, and I feel like mine has ended.

I’ll learn to get back into doing assignments now that classes are looking to resume. I was just extremely excited to feel a sense of connection with the characters in “The Iliad” who have experienced aresteia because in a scholarly, 21st century, college student way, I have experienced it too.

As for talking about Book 13, I found a few things interesting. First, I was shocked that Poseidon was helping the Greeks. Earlier in the book, I recall him helping the Trojans so the switching sides game he is playing comes as a shock to me. Was he not JUST trying to ruin all the Greek ships like 3 chapters ago? I wonder what he believes he is getting out of helping the Greeks or if the Trojans just pissed him off? And if they didn’t piss him off earlier on, we at least know Hektor did when he killed Poseidon’s grandson, Amphimachus. Poseidon obviously feels rage because of the death, but here’s my take on it. Poseidon knew he was involving himself in a WAR. Emphasis on war. I find it funny how he joined, knew his grandson was in battle, yet still feels upset that his grandson died. Almost like a little kid — happy to play the game, but sad when they lose. One thing in life I’ve learned — although it can suck it’s still true — you have to be willing to take the cards you were dealt. Poseidon seems mad not everything is going his way, but isn’t that life? Which leads me to remember that Poseidon is a god, so maybe he is used to things going his way. Either way, if you involve yourself if mortal activities, you should expect mortal outcomes. Is it completely fair for him to even want revenge on Hektor for killing his grandson if that was quite literally Hektor’s job?

Other than that, I made note of the apparent dynamic change between Hektor and Paris in Book 13. In past chapters, Paris has always been known as the cowardly brother. Running away to his bedroom during duels, and hiding behind Trojan men when the Greeks were attacking. His wife, Helen even calls him out for being a coward and feels embarassed for him. On the contrary, Hektor is always the courageous brother, running toward the battle. Experiencing aresteia. Even denying his wife’s plea to stay home rather than fight the Greeks. However, in Book 13, Hektor is the one considering going home and it is Paris who must persuade him to stay. This feels like a familiar moment when a figure one may look to for advice is feeling down themselves and is in need of help from someone they’re always helping. In a twisted way, I found it heartwarming that Paris is changing his ways to help his brother — even though as reader’s we know that Paris is just talking Hektor into death.

The last interesting thing in this book is the role Polydamas has and how comparatively, he is like the Trojan Nestor. This is the second time Polydamas has given advice to Hektor on how to lead the battle. The first is when he suggested the Trojans attack the Greeks on foot, and in this book, when he suggests to Hektor that the Trojans back down from the battle. What’s more interesting to me is that Hektor listens to him, which again — reminds me of a Greek situation with Nestor. Nestor is known for giving advice as a wise man and the other warriors most often listen to him because the points and advice he gives is helpful. I find it interesting that Hektor listens, because that means Hektor must have some sort of respect for Polydamas suggestions. We do not get as much detail about the Trojan men as we do the Greek men, so trying to assume the roles and relationships the Trojans have with each other and themselves is always fun for me so I can learn about the men from both sides of the war.

To answer the guided questions for this book:

The four gods who have affect the plot of “The Iliad” so far have been Zeus, Hera, Poseidon and in my opinion, the most important one, Thetis. Zeus, Hera and Poseidon are self-explainable. Zeus has the divine plan on the Greeks winning the war, and he is the strongest so whatever he says goes. Hera has been trying to help the Greeks with the help of other goddess’ like Athene. And Poseidon, as we just read, has been influencing both sides of the battle, encouraging the men to fight on.

The most important god who has affected the PLOT of “The Iliad” is Thetis, Achille’s mother. If Thetis had not asked Zeus to give Achilles glory after Agamemnon violated him in Book 1, the push and pull and dramatics of this war would not exist. Reader’s wouldn’t experience the Trojans winning and then gods helping the Greeks so then they start winning.

Additionally, Hera helped the Greeks because she was mad at Paris, a Trojan who granted Aphrodite the Apple of Discord. So Hera’s motives seem to be revenge on the Trojans. Zeus’ motives were to help Achilles gain glory, as Thetis supplicated and asked him to do. I am honestly not sure what Poseidon’s motives are, he seems to just be doing what he pleases when he pleases and helping who he wants to help when he feels like it.

Thursday September 16, 11:10–12:30

Today in class we talked about Agememnon’s armour and the details surrounding it. Like how his armour was decorated with gorgons, an apotropaic symbol used to repel evil. Professor Sandridge has mentioned this before in class, but it’s worth mentioning again — a cross is a kind of apotropaic symbol. I wear my cross necklace almost everyday and it’s cool now to look in the mirror and recognize that it is a symbol used to fight off evil. I always just associated wearing a cross with letting people know I was religious, but now I see it in a new and improved light. Not only am I letting others know about my religious beliefs, but I feel protected from evil and it’s cool to have a deeper understanding as to why.

In class, we also spoke about the generations before Agamemnon and oh man is it messy. The generations of men in Agamemnon’s bloodline are listed as: Tantalus then Pelops then Atreus (Agamemnon’s father) and then Agamemnon. We learned that Tantalus cut up his son and tried feeding him to a god which is literally so disturbing. I missed why he did that, but I know there could not have been any valid reason to literally slice your son up and serve him to any being. At least from this story, we learned a new vocabulary word: tantalize. Tantalizing is when one offers something to someone and then takes it away. In the underworld, Tantalus is punished by being tantalized — when he goes to drink the water beneath him, the water lowers and becomes out of reach. When he tries to pick fruit from the tree above him, the tree raises and is out of reach. And honestly all I can say about his punishment is GOOD. The word tantalize reminds me much about what I believe Howard did to the class of 2024. For months, we assumed we would be able to come on campus our freshman year of college. I personally packed my room, sent boxes of my favorite clothes and shoes to DC, rented a car and started making plans with friends in DC. Then so suddenly and so late, Howard announced on a random Tuesday that the campus would be closed. I remember being absolutely devastated. I cried in my mom’s car and she took me to get icecream at McDonald’s. That’s an experience I have being tantalized and it’s not a good feeling at all.

Sunday September 19, 6pm-9pm

Just finished reading Books 14–16. Poseidon is still helping the Greeks and I still don’t feel like I have my answer as to why. I don’t trust any of the gods in this book so I feel like Poseidon is being fishy (HA, GET IT?). But Book 14 is actually very crazy and I’m going to get in to it. Hera literally seduces Zeus?? Gross. And Zeus lists out every woman he’s ever been with to her in the process. Double gross. This entire seduction and Hera’s motives behind it are quite interesting because I believe it relates to the 21st century. Women using sex to get what they want or to manipulate men. Zeus also not being concerned with other’s watching as they “do the deed” is somewhat relatable now as well. In society, men don’t have to care as much as women about being caught because men are not shamed for sexual activity in the way women are.

Something else I noted in Book 14 is the slight change in Agamemnon’s character. On line 49 he says “Oh, shame, for I think that all the other…Achaians are storing anger against me…as Achilleus did…”. This statement makes me believe that Agamemnon is starting to feel remorse for his actions and possibly owning up to his mistake. Which I respect. I mean, yes, he is quite literally getting his butt kicked in battle so it would be absolutely shameless if he hadn’t started to rethink his life choices. But this does confirm that when someone is at their lowest, it’s when they can finally start to see where they went wrong. Hopefully, his feelings will allow for him to grow and never take another wife from someone again.

Another thing that Agamemnon says that I can take as a life lesson is “The man does better who runs from disaster then he who is caught by it”. As a new college student (sort of), finding herself in the midst of possible drama between friends and other hardships, this is some wise advice. I interpret this is my life to mean, it’s smarter to not get caught up in the BS than to surround myself by it. It’s smart to protect my peace and allow only positivity in to thrive. Running from my disaster could mean not going out when I know I have an 8am the next morning, or not agreeing to do something with friends when I know I have an assignment due the next day. Running from my disaster could also mean avoiding college drama in friend groups, or not mixing with students I know always have something negative going on. In college, it feels like I have to do everything — go to every party, be at every friend function and talk to as many people as possible. But sometimes, it’s smarter to run from the possible disaster than get caught up. Getting caught up could mean being sleep deprived, getting a bad grade based on a missing assignment, or losing good friends because of drama. I don’t quite get along with Agamemnon, but he does make some pretty good points.

And how could I not mention the tragic death of Patrokolos in Book 16. I really did like that guy. He seemed nice and I know Achilles had a great love for him. To read that he was killed, and so violently too is saddening. I couldn’t say I didn't know it was coming (because Professor Sandridge told us in our very first class) but it sure it sad to read it.

Tuesday September 21, 11:10–12:30

Patrokolos causes his death by allowing his aresteia to run for too long. He felt like he was stronger than he actually was and that caused him his life. I can relate this to my own life because sometimes, I’ll take on too many responsibilities, thinking I am capable of handling them all. But I will burn out so quickly, and find myself crying to my mom about how stressed I am.

Besides learning that in class, we also learned — you guessed it — new vocabulary words!! Today’s words were priamel and capping term. Two things Zeus used when bragging to Hera about all the women he’s been with. (Can I say gross just one more time? Gross). In this particular instance, the listing of other women and the children Zeus got from them would be the priamel, a list of things in a certain category. The capping term would he Hera, the thing listed last which is also the best. How sweet of Zeus.

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