Homer'sThe Iliad & Plato's Meno

An examination of Plato's Meno and Homer's The Iliad demonstrates a clash of values and ideas between Plato and Homer. This clash of values and ideas is most expressed in four areas. First, Plato views poetry such as Homer's epic as based on metaphor and distanced from the truth. In this manner, he finds such works to be misleading because they encourage individuals to seek poetic reality rather than the "good." Second, Homer's depiction of the gods in The Iliad as being in possession of both good and bad qualities directly clashes with Plato's view of the gods as the embodiment of all that is good. Third, Plato critiques The Iliad as leading to bad behavior in individuals and disharmony in cities because it relies upon emotion rather than ration. This goes against Plato's view of justice, which must rely upon ration. Fourth, Homer's The Iliad demonstrates a fear of death in his depiction of Hades; something Plato felt would lead to warriors or city protectors who lacked bravery and courage. This analysis will review this clash of ideas and ideals, as expressed in The Iliad and The Meno as well as viewed from the perspective of Friedrich Nietzsche.

Plato's worldview as expressed in Meno and other dialogues encompasses the argument that imitative forms of art lead away from the truth. Plato finds poetry, with its use of metaphors and false images, to be particularly dangerous. Epic poetry like Homer's The Iliad leads people away

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his description of Hades, Homer shows fear of death. Such depictions are critiqued by Plato as leading individuals away from the truth. They also undermine justice because they appeal to emotion. From such stories as The Iliad people will adopt bad behavior and ultimately lead to the undermining of the city. We see in The Iliad that the individual placing his desires or emotions above rational thought does, indeed, lead to the ruination of the city. Hector is torn between love of family and love of state, both ideals to the Greeks. Hector is also impulsive and has a moment of action based on personal not communal glory. He rashly kills Patroklos which signifies the fall of Troy in The Iliad. Hector realizes his lapse in judgment and knows the only way to regain the honor is to give himself up for the good of the community. He knows this is in vain, but he knows he is damned for certain if he does not. He says to Priam and Hekabe, "Now, since by my own recklessness I have ruined my people,/I feel shame before the Trojans and the Trojan women with trailing/robes, that someone who is less of a man than I will say of me:/'Hector believe in his own strength and ruined his people'" (Homer 104-110). The conflicting ideas and va

Category: Literature - H