Homer's epic is the product of the transition from clan commune system to slavery in ancient Greece. Most of the heroes portrayed in the epic are full of the spirit of clan heroes and the consciousness of early slave owners. ?
Achilles is brave and unstoppable; He can take care of the overall situation, forget the past and fight resolutely; His love and hate are clear, and his heart is broken for the death of his best friend. After killing your opponent, drag him to the back of the chariot to vent his anger. All these reflect his true colors of heroism. However, he refused to participate in the war out of personal interests, and was unwilling to reconcile in order to show his important position, which eventually led to heavy casualties in the Greek army. This fidgety and willfulness shows his personal clan aristocratic consciousness.
In contrast, Hecktor is more heroic and collectivist. He foresaw that the polis would be destroyed, that he would be killed and that his wife would become a slave. But he resolutely went into battle on behalf of his father, took the lead, and finally shed blood on the battlefield. The description of Hecktor's farewell to his wife and the scene of mourning for her in the whole city after Illion's death have added to the tragic color of this image. ?
Odysseus is the most obvious slave owner in Homer's epic. He is the king of Ithaca and a wise and brave general in the Greek army. He has all the qualities and talents of a slave owner. He is resourceful and eloquent; He has indomitable courage, and he is determined to return to his hometown regardless of all hardships; He was single-minded about love, resisted the temptation of God, and finally returned to his wife. He cares about his subordinates, sympathizes with slaves and is loved by people. At the same time, he is also hypocritical and cunning, and he is extremely cruel to disloyal domestic slaves. ?
It can be seen that while trying to render the noble qualities of various heroes, the epic did not avoid their shortcomings, and sometimes even severely criticized them. Therefore, people have always regarded Homer's epic as the pioneer of critical realism literature. ?
It should be said that as a work formed during the transition period from ancient Greek society to slavery, the aristocratic tendency in the epic is inevitable. At that time, due to the uneven distribution of social wealth, the tendency of increasing differentiation between nobles and civilians became more and more obvious. The inviolability of personal wealth is gradually regarded as a social norm. The noble's heroic struggle for the vested interests of the group is regarded as the supreme virtue. The heroic images depicted in the epic are also the representatives of these tribal nobles. Their thoughts not only represent a positive, optimistic and enterprising attitude towards life, but also represent a social moral standard that matches the brand-new social system. ?
The Iliad and the Odyssey are its two parts. The Iliad focuses on the story of Qi Xin, a hero who broke through all difficulties and captured Troy. The hero's image is distinct, his temperament is different, and his narrative structure is magnificent.