The Force of Achilles in the Iliad

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2003

Author

Champagne, Roland A.

Journal

Orbis Litterarum

Volume

58

Number

1

Pages

65-78

Language

English

Keywords

force
Homer
iliad
violence

Annotation

This article explores the representation of force in Homer’s Iliad. Champagne begins with a discussion of Simone Weil’s understanding of force as violence, which changes those who encounter it into things, arguing that such an understanding does not adequately address the complexity of force. Beginning with Weil’s view, the author goes on to discuss five understandings of force. In conclusion, he argues contrary to Weil’s view, a number of these senses of force are present and seem to survive at the end of the epic.