📖 The Iliad

We've all heard of the story of Achilles. He was immortal after his mother dipped him in the River Styx, and could only be killed with a shot to the heel. Set near the end of the Trojan War, it talks about Achilles's wrath and fight for glory in the brutal combat, but also delves into the deeper parts of Greek culture and families involved. First, we need to meet some of the characters. Achilles is a Greek warrior in the Trojan War. He's the main character, and seemingly all-powerful. However, he has his fatal flaw, hubris. Hubris is an excessive pride in oneself, and it ultimately led to his downfall. Next, we have Agamemnon. He was the king of Mycenae, and led the Achaeans. He had a wife Clytemnestra and five kids, though not for long. He sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia in exchange for calm winds to Troy. On his return, he was murdered by Clytemnestra. Finally, we have Hector. He was the Trojan prince, and Achilles's rival. Like Achilles, his fatal flaw was his hubris, although he still was pious and loved his family very much. Throughout the story, we see the battle from all perspectives. Told in third person omniscient, we know what's going on in everyone's heads, and how they're all dealing with this tough time. Even the gods are choosing sides, and the Trojan War's end is told in the fullest extent by Homer. This story has become one of, if not the, most well known epic poems. I heavily recommend this book because it's kind of like an intro to Greek mythology and ties many stories and people together.

我们都听说过阿喀琉斯的故事。他在母亲将他浸入冥河(斯提克斯河)后几乎刀枪不入,只有脚跟是致命弱点。故事背景设定在特洛伊战争即将结束之际,叙述了阿喀琉斯的愤怒与对荣耀的追求,以及残酷战斗的细节,同时也深入探讨了希腊文化和相关家族的更深层面。 首先,我们需要认识一些人物。阿喀琉斯是特洛伊战争中的希腊勇士,是故事的主角,看似全能无敌。然而,他也有致命弱点——傲慢(hubris)。傲慢是对自身过度的自负,而这最终导致了他的悲剧。接着是阿伽门农,他是迈锡尼国王,也是阿开亚军队的统帅。他有妻子克吕泰涅斯特拉和五个孩子,不过并不是所有孩子都能活到最后。他为了换取顺风启航前往特洛伊而牺牲了女儿伊菲革涅亚。等他回国时,却被妻子克吕泰涅斯特拉杀死。最后是赫克托耳,他是特洛伊王子,也是阿喀琉斯的对手。和阿喀琉斯一样,他的致命弱点也是傲慢,但他仍然虔诚并深爱着自己的家人。 在整个故事中,我们从各个角度看到战场的情况。故事以第三人称全知视角讲述,让我们得以了解每个人内心的想法,以及他们是如何面对这段艰难时光的。甚至连众神也选择了各自的阵营。特洛伊战争的结局在荷马的笔下得到了最完整、最广阔的呈现。这个故事已经成为最著名的史诗之一,甚至可以说是最著名的。 我强烈推荐这本书,因为它就像一部希腊神话入门读物,把许多故事和人物巧妙地串联在一起。