Homer illustrates that people have a tendency to harbor malicious intentions regardless of their deep-seated moral values, which is why the Iliad has been dubbed a “morality play”. The Iliad, too, is considered a play of morality because it features characters who embody both virtue and corruption. The audience can also receive moral guidance from the play. The Iliad can be considered as a morality story because of the combination of all these features.
The Iliad’s main moral is that the inability to control human passion and reason is the primary cause of tragedy and discord. Man will experience irrational events if he acts irrationally. Nature and Gods work together to make man behave irrationally. Then tragedy occurs, causing the question as to who or what is responsible for his fate. Ancient Greeks believed in a world where man is subject to forces that are far more powerful than him, and also at their whim or subordinate to Zeus. Men must also weigh their emotions against reason when making decisions. Achilles is preoccupied with wrath, and this is why he causes so much pain to his fellow soldiers. His pride prevents him from joining their fight and many of them suffer and die as a result. Achilles is a victim of his own rage, which is what eventually brings him to an early death. Achilles’s heroism is due to the fact that he becomes a stronger man as a result of his struggle. His anguish causes him to go through phases of pride, anger, and revenge. He is stripped of his honor, loses his closest friend due to his irrational behaviour. But after he has charged into battle and realized he was doomed for death and been moved by Hectors fathers poignant pleas to retrieve Hectors corpse he underwent a profound transformation. He sees forces that are greater than him, and comments on how men are terrible and Gods with no concern for themselves are responsible for the sorrow that is woven into people’s daily lives. In this moment of realization, he begins to have a truly tragic view of life. He becomes a tragic figure. This transformation gives the audience the chance to learn morals and live a good life. Iliad includes characters that represent the corrupt and virtuous traits found in the epic. Odysseus, despite being a clever and witty character, is also a man of misguided morals. He seems to have used deceitful and dishonorable tactics in order to win the Trojan War. It is evident in the Odyssey that he will eventually pay for his deceit and lack of honour. Odysseus is a good example of how retribution is a principle that is evident in the Iliad.
It is often called a morality drama because of the way in which the protagonist represents humanity or a particular structure. It’s also a morality story because it inspires its audience to lead a good life and provides moral guidance.
