Eurolit Homework for 9/18/18

Read: Iliad Books XX & XXII

Eurolit Notes for 9/18/18

As soon as Achilles finds out Patroclus is dead, he suffers.

We are imperfect beings, thus we suffer. The gods are anthropomorphic projections of humanity, so they are imperfect. We created the gods in the image of man. 

We cannot define what it means to be human because we can be more today than we were yesterday. How do we do that? By knowing ourselves (gnothi seaton). We are self-surpassing.

p. 339  The passage that begins, “I have no wish to live.…” reflects Achilles’ decision to kill Hector, after which he knows he will die. 

Achilles is sacrificing himself for something greater, which allows him to overcome the fear of death.

The number one thing that motivates humans is fear of death. When Achilles no longer fears death, he becomes more than human. Losing ones fear of death is one of the ways to become self-surpassing.

p. 341 “Prince Hector above all has set his heart.…” Hector is going to put Patroclus’ head on a pike about the palace wall as a warning. Since Achilles cannot fight Hector without his armor, he going to the wall and cries aloud. The Trojans are frightened by his cries. 

p. 352 Man has a dual nature: we are beasts, but we are also civilized.