The Iliad, Book 1: Discussion and Summary

Summary

This video delves into the first book of the epic poem 'The Iliad,' focusing on the major characters Achilles and Agamemnon, whose conflict sets the stage for the narrative. Achilles' tragic flaw of rage, coupled with Agamemnon's arrogance, leads to a devastating plague among the Greeks. The gods' interference, including Zeus's reluctant favor to Thetis, Achilles' mother, further complicates the war's outcome. The video also touches on the poem's themes of honor, fate, and the tragic consequences of strong emotions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Iliad's Book One introduces us to the epic's major characters, including Achilles, Agamemnon, Nestor, Calchus, and several gods and goddesses.
• 😢 Achilles is portrayed as a tragic hero, destined to die young, which evokes pity, but also as violent and emotionally intense, causing problems for himself and others.
• 👑 Agamemnon is depicted as a powerful but arrogant and selfish leader, whose actions trigger significant conflicts and contribute to the war's continuation.
• 🏺 The conflict with Apollo arises when Agamemnon refuses to return a slave girl, Briseis, to her father, a priest of Apollo, leading to a plague among the Greeks.
• 🔮 Calchus, the seer, is a cowardly figure who, despite his ability to speak on behalf of the gods, hesitates to accuse Agamemnon of wrongdoing.
• 🌊 Thetis, Achilles' mother, is a sea goddess who grieves for her son's impending death and seeks to secure his honor by influencing Zeus.
• ⚔️ Achilles' rage and decision to withdraw from the war due to Agamemnon's mistreatment set the stage for much of the poem's action and highlight themes of honor and leadership.
• 🌩️ The gods' interference in human affairs, such as Zeus allowing the Trojans to win as a favor to Thetis, demonstrates the complex interplay between divine will and human destiny.
• 📜 The introduction to Book One uses poetic devices like the invocation of the Muse and in medias res to immerse readers in the ongoing narrative of the Trojan War.
• 🎭 The themes of rage, the tragic consequences of actions driven by strong emotions, the tragedy of war, and the meddling of gods in human affairs are established early in the book.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the epic poem 'The Iliad' as presented in the video script?

The central theme of 'The Iliad' presented in the script is the rage of Achilles, which leads to the destruction of many of his own men and reflects the tragic consequences of strong emotions and actions.

Who is the protagonist of 'The Iliad' and why is he considered a tragic character?

The protagonist of 'The Iliad' is Achilles. He is considered a tragic character because it is known from the beginning that he will die young, evoking a sense of pity despite his violent and intensely emotional nature.

What is the role of Agamemnon in the conflict presented in the first book of 'The Iliad'?

Agamemnon is a powerful leader and general of the Achaean army. His arrogance and selfishness lead to a significant conflict with Achilles, which triggers most of the action in the first book.

How does the character of Calchus, the Seer, contribute to the plot of the first book of 'The Iliad'?

Calchus, the Seer, serves as the mouthpiece of the Gods, specifically Apollo. He is aware of the cause of the plague affecting the Greeks and, with Achilles' protection, reveals Agamemnon's fault, which is the mistreatment of the priest of Apollo and the refusal to return the girl Crisaethus.

What is the significance of the gods and goddesses in the first book of 'The Iliad'?

The gods and goddesses play a significant role in the first book of 'The Iliad' by influencing the actions of the characters and the outcomes of events. For example, Athena helps Achilles control his anger, while Apollo inflicts a plague on the Greeks due to Agamemnon's disrespect.

What is the catalyst for the conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles in the first book of 'The Iliad'?

The catalyst for the conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles is Agamemnon's refusal to return the young slave girl Crisaethus to her father, a priest of Apollo, which results in a plague on the Greeks and further escalates when Agamemnon takes Achilles' prize, Briseis.

How does the character of Nestor attempt to resolve the conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles?

Nestor, an old warrior with wisdom, tries to create peace between Agamemnon and Achilles by giving a speech about the importance of leaders not fighting each other, as it only benefits the Trojans. However, his efforts are not successful in changing Agamemnon's stance.

What is the role of Thetis, Achilles' mother, in the first book of 'The Iliad'?

Thetis, a sea goddess and Achilles' mother, is portrayed as a grieving figure who knows her son is destined to die young. She hears Achilles' lament and, despite her fear that it will lead to his death, asks Zeus to honor Achilles by allowing the Trojans to win temporarily.

What is the significance of the introduction to the first book of 'The Iliad' in terms of its poetic features and themes?

The introduction to the first book of 'The Iliad' is significant for its use of poetic features such as the evocation of the Muse and being in media res, as well as establishing major themes like the tragic nature of Achilles, the consequences of actions driven by rage, the tragedy of war, and the meddling of the gods in human affairs.

How does the video script describe the portrayal of war in 'The Iliad'?

The script describes the portrayal of war in 'The Iliad' as tragic and filled with pain, loss, and horror. It emphasizes that despite the presence of heroes, the violence of war is never portrayed positively and is always accompanied by the idea that it makes the world more painful and ugly.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to The Iliad and Major Characters

This paragraph introduces the epic poem 'The Iliad', focusing on Book One. It discusses the major characters, including Achilles, Agamemnon, Nestor, Calchus, and various gods and goddesses. Achilles is portrayed as a tragic hero, destined to die young, yet also violent and emotional. Agamemnon is depicted as a powerful but arrogant leader, whose actions set off the plot's conflicts. Nestor is an old warrior with wisdom, Calchus is a seer who speaks for Apollo, and the gods, including Hera, Athena, Apollo, and Thetis, play significant roles in the narrative. The paragraph sets the stage for the conflicts that arise from the characters' actions and the influence of the gods.

05:03

🛡 Conflicts and Divine Intervention

This section delves into the conflicts between Agamemnon and Achilles, as well as the plague sent by Apollo due to Agamemnon's disrespect towards the priest of Apollo, Chryses. Achilles calls for a meeting to address the plague, and Calchus reveals Agamemnon's fault. Agamemnon's arrogance leads to a heated exchange with Achilles, who challenges Agamemnon's leadership and fairness. The tension escalates, and Achilles nearly attacks Agamemnon but is stopped by Athena, sent by Hera. The paragraph highlights the human and divine elements that drive the narrative, showcasing the complexity of the characters and the consequences of their actions.

10:05

😢 Achilles' Anguish and Thetis' Plea to Zeus

The paragraph explores Achilles' emotional response to Agamemnon's actions, as he feels dishonored and decides to withdraw from the war. Nestor attempts to mediate the conflict, but both Agamemnon and Achilles remain defiant. Achilles, in his anger, prays to his mother, Thetis, to intervene on his behalf. Thetis, despite knowing this will lead to her son's death, asks Zeus to honor her son by allowing the Trojans to prevail until the Greeks realize their need for Achilles. This section underscores the themes of honor, grief, and the influence of the gods on human affairs.

15:06

🎭 Key Features of Book One: Rage, War, and Fate

The final paragraph discusses the literary and thematic elements introduced in Book One of 'The Iliad'. It highlights the evocation of the Muse, the use of in media res to immerse readers in the ongoing war, and the exploration of complex emotions towards characters like Achilles. The paragraph also emphasizes the tragic nature of war, the role of the gods in human destiny, and the idea of fate versus free will. It sets the stage for further analysis of these themes throughout the epic.

Keywords

💡The Iliad

The Iliad is an epic poem by the ancient Greek poet Homer, which centers on the events of the Trojan War and the Greek hero Achilles. In the video, the script discusses the first book of The Iliad, highlighting the major characters and the plot that revolves around their actions and emotions, setting the stage for the tragic events that unfold.

💡Achilles

Achilles is the central character of The Iliad and is depicted as a tragic hero. He is known for his exceptional skills as a warrior but also for his volatile temper. In the script, his character is explored in depth, showing his mixed feelings of pity due to his impending early death and his violent and emotional nature that leads to significant consequences in the narrative.

💡Agamemnon

Agamemnon is portrayed as the leader of the Achaean army and a powerful but flawed character in the script. His arrogance and selfishness are highlighted as the catalyst for the conflict with Achilles, which drives much of the action in the first book. His character serves to illustrate the negative aspects of leadership and the impact of personal flaws on larger events.

💡Nestor

Nestor is an aged warrior in The Iliad who is known for his wisdom and experience. The script mentions him as a peacemaker, attempting to mediate the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon. His role emphasizes the value of age and wisdom in resolving disputes and the potential for peace amid conflict.

💡Calchas

Calchas is a seer or prophet in the script who serves as a mouthpiece for the gods, specifically Apollo. His character is shown to be somewhat cowardly, fearing the wrath of Agamemnon when he must reveal the cause of the plague affecting the Greeks. Calchas's role underscores the divine influence on human affairs and the tension between mortal and divine will.

💡Hera

Hera is the queen of the gods in Greek mythology and is depicted in the script as siding with the Greeks. She is shown to be proactive in the war, sending Athena to intervene when internal strife threatens the Greek cause. Hera's actions in the video reflect the gods' involvement in human conflicts and their personal biases.

💡Athena

Athena is the goddess of wisdom and war in Greek mythology. In the script, she is depicted as assisting Achilles by helping him control his anger and prevent a physical confrontation with Agamemnon. Athena's intervention illustrates the gods' direct influence on human actions and their role in shaping the outcome of events.

💡Apollo

Apollo is a god associated with many aspects, including plague, in Greek mythology. The script describes how his anger at Agamemnon's disrespect leads to a plague among the Greeks. Apollo's role highlights the consequences of dishonoring the gods and the divine retribution that can result from such actions.

💡Thetis

Thetis is Achilles' mother and a sea goddess in the script. She is portrayed with mixed emotions of grief and a desire for her son's honor, knowing his fate is to die young. Her character adds a layer of emotional depth to the narrative, showing the personal sacrifices and the struggle between fate and the pursuit of honor.

💡Zeus

Zeus is the king of the gods in Greek mythology, and in the script, he is depicted as trying to maintain balance in the war. However, he is also shown to be influenced by Thetis's plea to honor Achilles, which leads to temporary Trojan victories. Zeus's character represents the complex interplay between divine will, fate, and the gods' personal feelings.

💡In media res

In media res is a Latin term meaning 'in the middle of things,' and it is a narrative technique used in epic poetry, including The Iliad. The script mentions that the story begins not at the start of the Trojan War but nine years into it, creating a sense of an ongoing conflict with no clear beginning or end. This technique is used to immediately immerse the audience in the action and to suggest the vastness of the war.

Highlights

The major character in Book One of The Iliad is Achilles, whose actions set up the plot.

Achilles is portrayed as a tragic character destined to die young, evoking pity, yet also seen as violent and emotionally intense.

Agamemnon is depicted as a powerful but arrogant and selfish leader, causing significant conflict with Achilles.

Nestor, the old warrior, is introduced as a wise peacemaker among the generals.

Calchas, the Seer, represents the voice of the gods but shows cowardice when confronting Agamemnon.

Gods and goddesses, including Hera and Athena, play a role in the conflict, siding with the Greeks and influencing events.

Apollo is shown as a god who punishes the Greeks with a plague after being disrespected by Agamemnon.

Thetis, Achilles' mother, is a goddess of the sea and a grieving figure, knowing her son's impending death.

Zeus, king of the gods, is depicted as trying to maintain balance in the war but is drawn into favoring the Trojans.

The conflict begins with Agamemnon's refusal to return a slave girl, Crisis, to her father, a priest of Apollo.

Achilles calls for a meeting of generals to address the plague sent by Apollo, revealing Agamemnon's fault.

Agamemnon's arrogance leads to a heated exchange with Achilles, who threatens to quit the war.

Achilles' restraint is highlighted when Athena intervenes to prevent him from attacking Agamemnon.

Achilles swears not to fight for the Achaeans and predicts their downfall without him.

Thetis pleads with Zeus to honor Achilles by letting the Greeks suffer defeats in his absence.

Zeus agrees to Thetis' request, despite knowing it will cause strife among the gods.

Hera's displeasure with Zeus' decision to favor the Trojans is evident, setting the stage for divine conflict.

The introduction to Book One features the evocation of the Muse and establishes themes of rage, tragedy, and divine intervention.

Transcripts

hey welcome back today we're going to be

talking about the epic poem The Iliad

and looking at book one let's start by

talking about the major characters in

this book

the most important character in book one

of The Iliad is Achilles and in fact

it's the actions surrounding this

character that leads to the overall plot

of the poem Achilles is set up as a

character about whom we have mixed

feelings he's a tragic character in that

we find out about him very quickly that

he's going to die young and so from the

very beginning he evokes a kind of pity

however he's also seen as violent and

intensely emotional both of which have

serious consequences in this book and so

although we feel sorry for him and the

tragedy looming in his near future we

also see how he brings problems on his

own head as well as on the heads of all

of his friends the second important

character in book one is Agamemnon

Agamemnon is the great General and

leader of the akian army and although he

is a powerful Warrior and a commanding

leader he's portrayed in this book as a

colossal jerk he is arrogant and selfish

and because he is so self-absorbed and

so determined to get what he wants he

not only hurts his friends and followers

but feels absolutely no remorse for his

power plays and his grasping nature his

arrogance leads to a significant

conflict with Achilles

which again triggers most of the action

in this book in book one we also meet

Nester the old Warrior who's been around

and had lots of opportunity to advise

people in the past his experience and

his age give him wisdom and give him the

opportunity to try to make peace among

the warring generals we also meet calcus

the Seer calcus is the mouthpiece of the

Gods he's able to speak on behalf of

Apollo but he's a little bit of a coward

and when he realizes that he has to

accuse Agamemnon he begs Achilles to

protect him it's no fun angering a

powerful leader we also meet several

gods and goddesses in this book there is

Queen Hera who very much sides with the

Greeks and when she sees them fighting

amongst themselves sins Athena down to

put a stop to it Athena is the other

goddess who really sides to the Greeks

and she's happy to step into the action

in this case she helps Achilles check

his anger and keeps him from starting an

actual fight we also see Apollo who does

not like being disrespected by those

humans and when his priest is mistreated

by Agamemnon he rains down a plague on

the Greeks we also meet thetas who is

Achilles mother she is a goddess a

goddess of the sea but in this book

she's also portrayed as a grieving

mother she knows her son is going to die

and so she has all of this conflicting

emotion which ties in nicely with some

of the major themes of the book finally

we have the king of the Gods Zeus and

although Zeus is usually depicted in

this book as trying to create balance

within the war in this section he gets

called upon to do a favor leading to the

Trojans winning for a while he knows

that picking

him into conflict with some of the Gods

and he's not very enthusiastic about

that okay now let's look at the content

of book one

after a short introduction that is

packed with all kinds of cool poetic

features which we'll talk about in a few

minutes the book begins by setting up

certain conflicts between Agamemnon and

achilles as well as between Apollo and

the Greeks the achaeans have been at war

with Troy for nine years

they sailed over and parked their boats

on the beach and they have been camped

there fighting against the city of Troy

but unable to get inside her walls

during that time they have had several

successful raids though and they've

sacked various Villages around Troy

taking trophies and spoils the conflict

begins because in one of those raids

Agamemnon took a young slave girl named

crisius her father crises just so

happens to be a priest of the god Apollo

and he comes with gifts and begs

Agamemnon to give back his daughter most

of the akians think that's a great idea

they say respect the priest accept The

Shining Ransom but Agamemnon being very

proud and haughty and selfish says no

I'm keeping the girl you get out of here

never again old man let me catch sight

of you by the hollow ships not loitering

now not slinking back tomorrow the staff

and wreath of the God will never save

you then the girl I Won't Give Up the

girl long before that old age will

overtake her in my house in Argos far

from her Fatherland slaving back and

forth at the loom forced to share my bed

now go don't tempt my wrath and you may

depart alive we very quickly get an

unfavorable opinion of Agamemnon

he is a selfish jerk his treatment of

crisius as well as of crises is

deplorable and although crisis is driven

away he prays to Apollo and asks Apollo

to help him which Apollo does in a

powerful description the god Apollo

strides forward pulls out his bow and

begins to shoot arrows of plague on the

Greeks

dying Achilles calls the generals

together and says hey we've got to

figure out what's going on here or we're

doomed and so they call calcus up to

seek information from the gods calcus

knows what's going on he knows it's

agamemnon's fault but he's hesitant to

say so because Agamemnon is a scary dude

when Achilles promises to back him up

calcus confesses that he knows it's

agamemnon's faults for stealing crisius

and for refusing to get her back and for

mistreating the priest of Apollo and

just as one would expect Agamemnon does

not take the news well

Seer of misery never a word that works

to my advantage always misery warms your

heart your prophecies never a word of

prophet said or brought to pass now

again you divine God's will for the

armies brute it about as fact why the

deadly Archer multiplies our pains

because I I refuse that glittering price

for the young girl crisius and

fur or by far the girl herself I want

her mine in my own house I rank her

higher than clitimnestra my wedded wife

she's nothing less sin build or breeding

in mind or works of hand but I am

willing to give her back even so if that

is best for all what I really want is to

keep my people safe not see them dying

but fetch me another prize and straight

off too else I alone of the archives go

without my honor that would be a

disgrace you are all witness look my

prize is snatched away so not only does

he say a lot of slights about his own

wife which is going to come back and

haunt him

later on in mythology we find out that

his wife kills him when he gets home but

then he acts like he's so great like

he's gonna give back this girl for the

good of everyone but you better give me

another girl just as good right now I

want my own prize so I don't have to go

without he's selfish and brutish and

awful Achilles steps up and says hey

Agamemnon

um that's really unfair after all all of

the treasure has already been passed out

to everybody if you start snatching

other people's prizes and treasures

we're gonna have problems that would be

dishonorable and then Achilles offers

hey why don't you just wait until we

take Troy and then you can have first

pick of everything but Agamemnon will

not be dissuaded and he says if you're

not gonna give me one I'm just going to

take yours Achilles Achilles accuses

Agamemnon of being incredibly selfish of

always letting his Heroes do all the

work for him while he gets the best

rewards after all Achilles doesn't

really have a reason to be out here

fighting he's only fighting for

Agamemnon one's sake remember it's

agamemnon's brother Menelaus who had his

wife stolen which led to this whole War

all the rest of these Greek heroes are

just along for the ride they made a

promise to defend Menelaus okay but they

don't really have any beef with the

Trojans Achilles says my honors never

equal yours whenever we sack some

wealthy Trojan stronghold my arms bear

the brunt of the raw Savage fighting

true but when it comes to dividing up

the plunder the Lion's Share is yours

and back I go to my ships clutching some

scrap some pittance that I love when I

have fought to exhaustion and at this

point Achilles says if you're gonna keep

being such an abusive leader I'm gonna

quit

so Achilles is the greatest fighter

among the Greeks he is their most

powerful asset and he is fed up with

Agamemnon on selfishness and so he's

ready to bow out and quit and as we look

at this scene we can see what a crummy

leader Agamemnon is being

how abusive he is being with his power

and I think that most of us can side

with Achilles here Achilles has been

very reasonable very logical he's tried

to talk through the situation he's tried

to make Agamemnon see reason whereas

Agamemnon has been blustering and angry

and abusive and at this point Achilles

is saying I'm not going to continue

working under these conditions and most

of us can say okay that seems reasonable

Agamemnon doubles down and says fine I'm

taking your girl bryceus away from you

and at that moment Achilles almost snaps

he reaches for his sword ready to attack

Agamemnon head-on but just in that

moment Hera and Athena step in to try to

stop him Hera sends Athena down to tap

on Achilles shoulder freeze the moment

and say you guys can't fight each other

we don't want either of you dead and

achilles puts his sword away

again Achilles was angry enough to kill

Agamemnon but he resists the anger With

a Little Help from the gods and yet even

if he did have Athena's help it shows

restraint on Achilles part Agamemnon is

the one who looks bad here so although

the book sets up this story about

Achilles rage we've seen Achilles keep

himself in check so far and so Achilles

swears that he will not fight for the

akians anymore and he also says you all

are going to regret driving me away when

Hector starts tearing you all apart and

he throws down his scepter Nestor stands

up and tries to create peace between the

two of them he's kind of depicted as a a

bit of an old wind bag here

yes he's got all this good advice but he

was always like in my day people used to

listen to the elders and he gives a big

speech about how the leaders should not

fight each other the only one who wins

in this situation are the Trojans and

agamemnon's like yes we should be

peaceful but he's the one who needs to

back down and achilles is like yeah but

think about how worthless I'd be if I

followed an abusive leader like you and

so they both growl at each other and

then walk away

Agamemnon keeps his word and sins

crisiest home and the plague stops

but he also goes and get brysius out of

that Achilles tent and bryceus is Led

away weeping from Achilles Achilles is

so emotional and enraged in this moment

that he begins to weep and cry and pray

to his mother the sea god fetus mother

you gave me life short as that life will

be so at least Olympian Zeus thundering

up on high should give me honor but now

he gives me nothing atreya's son

Agamemnon for all his flour flung

kingdoms the man disgraces me seizes and

keeps my prize he tears her away himself

so he wept and prayed and his Noble

mother heard him so Achilles begins to

cry and complain to his mother and up to

this point I think we've been able to

decide with Achilles pretty well he has

a lot of self-pity In This Moment

he knows that he's going to die and he's

going to die young but at least he could

have honor while he lives right so why

am I being so Dishonored he says and

when his mother arrives he tells her the

whole story and she also Grieves knowing

that his actions will ultimately lead to

his death she says oh my son my sorrow

why did I ever bear you all I bore was

Doom would to God you could Linger by

your ships without a grief in the world

without a torment doomed to a short life

you have so little time and not only

short now but filled with heartbreak too

more than all other men alive doomed

twice over so there's this sense of

grief thedus has for Achilles he's not

dead yet but he's going to die we see a

lot of grieving parents throughout this

book and so she sort of sets that tone

from the beginning but Achilles asks her

please go to Zeus and call in a favor

for me please let the Greeks be beaten

really badly while I sit out and I think

this is the moment when Achilles sort of

oversteps we can all agree that quitting

when your leader is abusive seems fairly

reasonable

but if you're gonna quit and then if

your team keeps winning after you quit

it makes you look bad

Gillies doesn't want that to happen and

so he wants to be able to sit out and he

wants his team to get completely trashed

so they all come crying to him and say

please come back and he can sit there

and be like yeah you needed me didn't

you why didn't you think of that before

and it brings them all kinds of Glory

although fetus is afraid that this will

ultimately lead to his death she agrees

to do so because she wants her son to

have honor so she flies up to Zeus and

kneels before him now there was an event

a long time ago where she saved Zeus

from being chained up

by the rest of the Gods and so he really

owes her a favor so when she asked this

request all those Zeus doesn't want to

do it he's already promised her a favor

and he has to commit so Zeus agrees

although he knows it's going to bring

trouble between him and Hera as well as

the other gods

he's gonna let the Trojans win for a

while so that Achilles can be brought a

lot of honor and Glory Hera gets wind of

this and she gets very upset and she

goes before Zeus and begins to complain

she does not want those Trojans to win

they didn't pick her in the beauty

contest and so she wants them all to die

and when she starts trying to get on to

Zeus for maybe agreeing to let the

Trojans win

he yells at her and tells her to leave

him alone what are going to be the

repercussions of all of these actions we

will see through the rest of the book

let's look at a few of the key features

of this book

first of all there's the introduction to

book one

rage got us sing The Rage of pelea's son

Achilles murderous doomed that cost the

akians countless losses hurling down to

the house of death so many sturdy Souls

great fighter Souls that made their

bodies carrying feasts for the dogs and

birds and the will of Zeus was moving

towards its end began Muse when the two

first broke and clashed Agamemnon Lord

of men and Brilliant Achilles this

introduction establishes many of the

themes of the story as well as a lot of

the major ideas first of all it has the

key poetic feature of the evocation of

the Muse much epic poetry begins with

calling out to the Muse for inspiration

and here the poet calls on the Muse to

help him tell the story of Achilles rage

it also begins with a poetic feature of

being in media rests which is a Latin

expression meaning in the middle of

things

epic poetry begins in media rests and

here we don't begin at the beginning of

the Trojan War but rather nine years in

which helps to establish this feeling

that war just goes on and on and on and

there's no real escape from it we begin

with a conflict between generals and

then have to go back and fill in some of

the details about why this is happening

there's also a lot of major themes

established by this introduction first

of all we established the idea that

we'll have conflicting feelings about

many of the characters particularly the

character Achilles we see him as

murderous but but also doomed

he is a violent man but he is also to be

pitied because of this tragedy

surrounding him and then as soon as we

establish those conflicting feelings we

hear that Achilles is going to lead to

the destruction not of the other side

but of his own men that cost the akians

countless losses and so we see the idea

of consequences of our actions

especially actions that are driven by

strong emotion it's the Rage of Achilles

that's going to lead to the death of so

many of his friends next we also have a

lot of description of the tragedy of War

this book is a war story but it never

lets us forget that war is full of pain

and loss and horror and ugliness

although there are heroes in this story

the violence is never portrayed as a

good thing it is always punctuated by

the idea that it makes the world more

painful and more ugly finally we get the

idea that the gods are going to be

meddling in everything although the

human beings make decisions and their

decisions have consequences there's also

the constant feeling that the gods are

meddling in our Affairs which ties in

with the idea of Fate how much of our

Lives can we control and how much is

controlled by circumstances Beyond us

that's a key question throughout this

book and there are characters who are

going to fight against their Fates as

well as characters who in spite of all

the things they attempt to do are still

broken on the wheel of fate we'll look

at more features next time in book two

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