Posted: September 12, 2020
The Iliad
Prose translation by Samuel Butler
Yes, the prose translation because I'm more comfortable with prose.The only niggle I have with Samuel Butler's translation is that he uses Roman names for the gods; I think the use of Greek names would have been more appropriate.
War
Being a product of my times and knowing what I know of military conflict, war is a very negative thing for me. This Trojan War should have been avoided by Priam simply commanding the return of Helen and surrendering his irresponsible son Paris to Greek justice. But why didn't that happen? Why does Paris' insistence in keeping Helen, even in this, the tenth year of the war, still respected by his family and the other Trojans? Well, maybe the tenth year of the war is a bit too late to return Helen. The Greeks have had too much time and effort invested to agree to a simple return and apology. It should have been done right after Paris set foot on home ground with the Spartan queen.
I see the Iliad glorify a terrible thing: war. But, when I think about it, life is war. Looking at war not as a military action but as a description of how life is: Everyday we get up and we struggle through our day; we wage war. And there it is in the Iliad, the pain, the grief, the effort, the loss, the triumphs, not so much of a military undertaking but of the daily wars we wage in life. Earning a living. Going for a goal. Doing our best with what we have. Winning. Losing. Looking at it another way, we are always at war and the Iliad gives us instruction on that.
It shows these heroes finding purpose and glory in the struggle. It shows them doing there best even unto their deaths; making the best of a bad situation. The Iliad, gives me that message. The fight is unfortunate, but you're in it, so fight well. Do your best. Fight your personal war with courage even unto death; the little deaths we die every day as we struggle in our lives.
The Gods
You know who the gods are to me? It is life itself: The sudden occurrence of bad news, the unexpected jackpots, the thousand and one chances for good or ill that happen to all of us.The presence of the gods in the Trojan War informs me that, ultimately, chance rules us all. We do not know or control our fate. That is simply how it is. The heroes of the Trojan war have to tolerate the interference of the gods. We have to tolerate fate handing as situations of joy or pain well beyond our control. That is simply how it is. It is the gods, it is fate, it is life.
Impressions of the Read
Iliad snobs be damned, I like Samuel Butler's prose version simply because its easier for me to read and understand. I suspect that lovers of specific verse translations will say that much beauty is lost. That may be so but much beauty remains. The story is epic and amazing and engaging and very emotional at times. And tragically beautiful. And yes, I'm swept up. I may hate war but this work pulls me in and I'm glorying in the battle; I can't help it, it just pulls me in.
By virtue of its age the Iliad is canon in a very major way. It's just the reference point for so many works of literature that comes later and because of that it is a cornerstone for the development of Western culture and civilization. Its rank among the works of literature can only be eclipsed by the Bible and Shakespeare in terms of influence. For this alone I think it deserves at least one reading for anyone who is into books.