Relationship versus Alienation Essay Example
Relationship versus Alienation Essay Example

Relationship versus Alienation Essay Example

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  • Published: December 19, 2018
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Comparing Relationship and Alienation in Different Stories

The concept of relationship versus alienation is explored in various stories. In Homer's The Iliad, Achilles' anger becomes his tragic flaw, causing him to disconnect from society. Despite his pursuit of honor, he fails to recognize the importance of love. However, it is only when he experiences the loss of his friend Patroclus that he realizes this mistake and seeks to reconnect with society.

This theme is also evident in The Stories of Achilles, Gilgamesh, and Job, illustrating how relationships and alienation can shape a character's journey.

In Homers The Iliad, Achilles becomes alienated from society due to his tragic flaw of anger and his pursuit of honor. However, after the death of his friend Patroclus, he realizes that he has prioritized trivial rewards over love. Similarly, in Herbert Mason's

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title character, Gilgamesh is also distracted from his friendship, causing his friend Enkidu to die before he appreciates the importance of their relationship. For the Bible figure Job, he only recognizes the self-inflicted nature of his alienation after having an unmediated conversation with God. He had doubted God, and only through this realization is he able to regain his identity as a religious shepherd. Although Achilles, Gilgamesh, and Job initially experience feelings of alienation in their beliefs, relationships, or towards their god or gods, they eventually work towards regaining connection and rebuilding their identities.

By definition, the tragic hero in a story must possess a tragic flaw. In The Iliad, Achilles, the tragic hero, exhibits an excessive amount of anger. While this anger serves as a driving force for his prowess as a warrior, it also serves as his tragic flaw. Known

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as thumos in Greek, this intense spiritedness sets Achilles apart from the rest of his society in various ways. His fury, also known as mnis, towards Agamemnon and Hector leads to his abandonment of the war effort, the demise of his friend Patroclus, and ultimately his own death. In Book I, Achilles is motivated by a desire for the characteristic that distinguishes him as a hero...glory.

Achilles' thumos leads him to isolate himself from society, consumed by his desire for glory and a divine reward, as well as the possession of Briseus. This relentless pursuit hinders him from engaging in battle. In Book XVI of The Iliad, Achilles' anger proves to be his downfall, resulting in Patroclus' death. Achilles dispatches Patroclus with the Myrmidons and loans him his own armor, instructing him to defend the ships against the Trojans but not to go any further. He fears that Patroclus' failure will tarnish his own reputation: It is not a prophecy from Zeus that troubles me, but rather the agonizing pain that arises when an equal man attempts to seize and claim a prize, reveling in his own power.

Thats the pain that wounds me, suffering such humiliation. (3) He continues to persuade Patroclus, saying .... you can win great honor, great glory for me in the eyes of all the Argive ranks(4). Although Achilles is appealing to Patroclus sense of friendship, Achilles himself is estranged from his own sense of friendship because he is so blinded by his quest for glory. In this case, Achilles alienates himself from his community.

After the death of Patroclus, Achilles has a revelation about their bond. The significance he once attributed to

glory and honor now appears insignificant in comparison to his connection with Patroclus. Although Achilles was previously a formidable warrior, he is now weakened and lying on the ground, clutching his own hair in despair (5). However, by isolating himself, he has caused the death of his friend. It is only when he realizes that love holds more value than conquest that he comprehends this truth; unfortunately, it is too late at that point. Consequently, Achilles becomes isolated from both community and relationships, resulting in a profound sense of purposelessness (6), where life feels devoid of meaning and empty. The demise of Patroclus has stripped Achilles of his humanity and rendered him detached from his own emotions and rational behavior.

Both The Iliad and The Odyssey explore the theme of alienation from oneself and the inability to actively engage in a familiar society. They convey the idea that it takes time for someone deeply affected by war to find themselves again. This concept is evident in Odysseus' story, as he embarks on a lengthy journey after fighting in the Trojan War. He not only seeks his homeland but also overcomes obstacles to rediscover his sense of identity prior to the war.

In The Iliad, Achilles also explores the idea of finding oneself again, as he tries to revive his true identity after losing it in battle. At first, Achilles is driven by anger, as shown when he ruthlessly slaughters the men near the river. Although he still possesses his thumos, he is slowly evolving. Unlike Odysseus, Achilles does not make it back home before meeting his end. Nevertheless, this aspect makes his heroism tragic. Eventually, both

Achilles and Odysseus regain their humanity after enduring a long existence as instruments of war.

Achilles and Odysseus, upon returning to society, undertake different roles. Achilles becomes a celebrated figure associated with warfare, while Odysseus focuses on reconstructing his relationships. Similarly, the narrative of Gilgamesh explores the theme of relationships. When they first meet, Gilgamesh and Enkidu swiftly establish a profound friendship. Their bond is harmonious and complementary, reminiscent of the concept of yin and yang. Enkidu compensates for Gilgamesh's lack of bravery, while Gilgamesh fulfills Enkidu's requirement for interpersonal skills due to his divine status. The opening stanza succinctly captures their tale and underscores the connection between these two characters – one divine and one human (7).

Because of their distinct characteristics, Gilgamesh and Enkidu experience a sense of isolation from society, which hinders their ability to establish authentic connections with fellow community members. Nonetheless, it is precisely these disparities that cultivate a deep friendship between them, reminiscent of the bond shared by Achilles and Patroclus. Consequently, the partnership between Gilgamesh and Enkidu concludes in a similar manner to that of Achilles and Patroclus.

Gilgamesh persuades Enkidu to lead the warriors into battle, resulting in Enkidu's death and Gilgamesh's subsequent withdrawal from the public due to his guilt complex. A part of Gilgamesh appears to die alongside Enkidu, leaving him feeling empty, similar to Achilles' mourning over Patroclus' loss. In the desert alone, Gilgamesh experiences an unprecedented loneliness and yearns for something unknowable. The aridity of the desert worsens his own decay. Others cannot fathom the boredom that accompanies this agony. Death strips away the direction and identity he had acquired as a king, reducing him to

a lost man. However, his desire for isolation intensifies as he seeks an even greater level of seclusion. It is evident that without his friend, Gilgamesh is nearly purposeless.

Gilgamesh's despair deepens as he blames himself for Enkidu's death, causing him to withdraw further from society and feel increasingly disconnected. Although he does find comfort in the presence of others, he eventually recognizes that these relationships lack genuine significance. The epic recounts Gilgamesh's encounter with Ea, where he discovers that those around him can only mimic and compete, preventing true connections from forming. Furthermore, his self-imposed isolation also inhibits his ability to engage with others.

Gilgamesh's primary focus for the remainder of the poem is his quest to reconstruct himself as a complete individual, seeking out the aspects of himself that perished alongside Enkidu. As we approach the conclusion, it becomes evident that Gilgamesh has at last regained his connection with his emotions. He acknowledges that he embarked on this journey not solely to reminisce about how his grief was unable to save Enkidu, but rather to discover an end to his anguish (10). Ultimately, Gilgamesh is in the process of recovering from the loss of Enkidu and striving towards rebuilding both his relationships with his wife and society as a whole. Out of all tales depicting solitude, none surpasses Job's narrative.

Job, who lived a life filled with piety, kindness, and love, had it abruptly taken away by an untrustworthy God. Despite his unwavering commitment to leading a virtuous life, God mercilessly stripped him of all possessions and afflicted him with painful sores. Job cannot understand why a faithful person like himself would be subjected to such

suffering. In his frustration, he expresses his despair: "Even though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. Whether the same fate awaits both the righteous and the wicked is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.' When calamity brings sudden death, he ridicules the despair of those innocent."

When the wicked takes control of a land, he blinds its judges. If it's not him, then who is it? (11) Job's inability to understand God's reasoning makes him feel disconnected from his own beliefs and the God he used to worship. Job believes he needs a logical explanation for his situation, but none of his advisors offer him a satisfactory justification. Because there appears to be no logic behind God's actions, Job feels alienated from his principles.

Gilgamesh, Achilles, and Job all share the common desire to seek understanding and meaning in their respective situations. Despite being considered semi-gods, both Gilgamesh and Achilles are unable to find solace or rationalize the deaths of their friends. Similarly, Job finds himself in a state of despair where his previously held beliefs no longer provide any explanation for his suffering, leading to feelings of estrangement from God. The application of Plato's Allegory of the Cave appears relevant to this situation.

According to the Allegory, Job is isolated in the cave, surrounded by distorted interpretations of Gods real design and reason. Even his friends, though they try to offer comfort, only see shadows and not the truth. Bildad acknowledges that his counsel is not the true word of God, stating that our days on earth are mere shadows and that the impious

live a hopeless existence (12). In the context of the Allegory of the Cave, Gods truth becomes distorted when translated into cave wall shadows. Job expresses his despair and alienation, stating that his eyes are filled with grief and his entire being is like a shadow (13). In this state of loneliness, Job is unable to grasp the truth of God.

When Job finally encounters God, he discovers the reason behind his circumstances. During this direct meeting, God questions Job's existence just as much as Job has questioned it with his counselors. God declares, "Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this" (14). It was indeed Job's pride that caused him to separate himself from his beliefs and from God. Once God re-establishes Job's understanding of his role in society and in God's plan, Job no longer feels alienated from himself, his community, or his God. Job confirms this by stating, "...I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know" (15).

The words of God lead Job to the realization that, despite his insignificance compared to divinity, he has no reason to experience alienation. I personally find common traits with Achilles, Gilgamesh, and Job. Each of us has, in some circumstances, felt disconnected from our beliefs, communities, or spirituality at some point. We are unwilling to forsake our faith, yet we encounter difficulties in finding purpose or explanation for the events that occur in our lives. Achilles, Gilgamesh, and particularly Job all have experienced a form of revelation where they restore or initiate the process of reconnection.

Despite my lack of faith in God,

I have found solace in a specific passage from the Bible. In Genesis, during the creation of the world, God declares, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." (16). Being a Unitarian Universalist, my belief system emphasizes the interconnectedness and inherent worth of all beings. The use of "us" and "our" by God further reinforces this notion of interdependence among everything. It implies that we are modeled after everything that surrounds us—such as trees, oceans or birds (17). Discovering personal significance within a text that I had previously distanced myself from has been truly gratifying.

Even when we feel disconnected from our friends, spirituality, or our own beliefs, we are never truly alone. The feeling of alienation arises when we believe that nobody else shares the same emotions. However, it is impossible to be alone because we are all interconnected with everything around us.

Citations

  1. from the student speakers lecture.
  2. Lesky, Albin, A History of Greek Literature, trans. de Heer ; Willis, London: Methuen ; Co., 1966, pp24.
  3. The Iliad, page 414, lines 59-63.
  4. The Iliad, page 415, lines 97-98.
  5. The Iliad, page 468, lines 28-30. in-class notes.
  6. The Iliad, page 15.
  7. Gilgamesh, page54.
  8. Gilgamesh,page77.
  9. Gilgamesh,page68.
  10. Job9:21 through Job9:24.
  11. Job8:9.
  12. Job17:7
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