Troy was based on the poem but one Problem Wolfgang Peterson
had done in the make of the film was it did not neccacerialy stay completely
ture to the poem. What had been influenced in the movie from the iliad was
culture. Culture was infuenced in the movie by the burning of bodies after the
death of a person. The Greeks would place two coins one on each eye whislt
burning the body for the ferryman that takes the lost souls down the river
styx. This was expressed in the burning of Hektor, Patroclus.
An influence that the Iliad had on the flim was the character Achilles and his
emotions. Achilles shows Anger in both the iliad and the film when his
Cousin(film)/friend(poem) dies by the hand of Hektor.
Masculinity and warior cultures were featured in the Iliad.
Throughout the Iliad Warefare was one of the most important aspects of society
in the Iliad. For men who don’t fully engage with being a warrior would be
criticized “I know only cowards depart from battle. / A real warrior stands his ground / Whether he is hit or hits another” - Book 11. The Iliad is based on the masculine ideas of duty, honour and bravery.
Greek cultures compared to 21st century cultures
In the Iliad it is based around 1250 B.C.E and the cultures
involved men being forced into the life of a warrior. Soldiers had to act
bravely and fight with honour if they did not they would be shunned and basically
cast out (in terms of respect). In the 21st century men would have
the option to go to the army they still have to brave and fight with honour for
their country.
An important
theme in the movie was the idea of mortality. In the movie it shows mortality
being gruesome and painful as it should be but also that everone is mortal and
not imortal. For example Achilles was explained in the Iliad as a god like
figure also know as a Demigod. Achilles mother was Thetis and his father was
Peleus. In the movie its shows that even though achilles moves swiftly he is
still mortal as he was killed by an arrow to the heel “Achilles Heel”. An
important theme in the Iliad was pride. In the iliad it shows that pride is
what made society strong. Pride was often dipicted as a distructive force as it
created conflict between Achilles and Agamemenon. “Still I am willing to give her back, if such is the best way. I myself
desire that my people be safe, not perish. Find me then some prize that shall
be my own, lest I only among the Argives go without, since that were unfitting”-
Agamemnon speaking to Achilles Book 1 Richmond Lattimore’s translation.
The message behind the Iliad and the movie Troy is glory comes before
family. An example of a character expressed in the Iliad and the movie that
shows that glory comes first is Achilles. Achilles is a fighter and in the
Iliad he strives for glory he would kill many men to make his name great so he
may be remembered throughout the years. An example of glory comes before family
is where Achilles speaks to Thetis and is faced with a decision to stay here
with his family or go fight in troy the consequences being he would die "If you stay in Larisa
you will find peace. You will find a wonderful woman. You will have sons and
daughters, and they will have children. And they will love you. When you are
gone, they will remember you. But when your children are dead and their
children after them your name will be lost. If you go to Troy glory will be
yours. They will write stories about your victories for thousands of years. The
world will remember your name. But if you go to Troy you will never come home. For
your glory walks hand in hand with your doom. And I shall never see you again”-
quote from the Movie Troy. Whoever
Achilles faced no matter who it was it seemed that Achilles would put glory
before anybody else. Another message behind the Iliad and the movie Troy is
Fight for the ones you love. An example of a character that shows fight for the
ones u love is Hektor. Hektor is a man who fights not only for his country but
also his family too. When hektor would face an enemy on the battlefield he
wouldn’t kill them for glory, he would kill them for the safety of his people
and for the safety of his city. An example of fight for the ones you love is
where Hektor is fighting Achilles and tries to reason with him but only leads
to “Hektors’ death where Achilles kills him for glory as hektor died trying to
keep his city and family safe.I pray you by your life and knees, and by your parents, let not dogs
devour me at the ships of the Achaeans, but accept the rich treasure of gold
and bronze which my father and mother will offer you, and send my body home,
that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I am
dead." Hector with his dying breath then said, "I know you what you
are, and was sure that I should not move you, for your heart is hard as iron;
look to it that I bring not heaven's anger upon you on the day when Paris and
Phoebus Apollo, valiant though you be, shall slay you at the Scaean
gates."- Book XXII.
In the iliad Patroclus died going into battle with the Trojans
impersonating Achilles. Patroclus was wearing Achilles amour (Achilles knew
about him wearing his amour but warned Patroclus before he went into battle) and
lead his men into battle were he then meets Hektor prince of troy. Hektor pursues
Patroclus ignoring the Greeks when Patroclus throws a stone, the stone hits Hectors’
Charioteer Cebriones. Patroclus then fights with him over the corpse. The other
Greeks and Trojans fight till night when the Greeks grow strong enough to pull
out the body of Cebriones. Patroclus kills 27 men when Apollo strikes him so
that Patroclus grows dizzy, knocks the helmet off his head and breaks his spear
and makes his shield fall of. Euphorbus strikes Patroclus with his spear but does
not kill Patroclus. Patroclus then draws back his men. Hektor sees what Patroclus
plan was and he puts a spear through his belly and kills him. Patroclus dying
then says to Hektor that Zeus and Apollo have made Hektor the victor. Patroclus
then adds that Achilles will kill him soon.
Differences in the movie
-In the movie troy by Wolfgang Peterson he shows the death
of Patroclus as an accident by Hektor this can be shown in this clip below.
I think the reason Wolfgang showed Hektor killing Patroclus by accident
basically to show the Greeks and Trojans as equals.
-In the movie Patroclus dies by a slice through the throat
instead of being speared through the belly “Patroclus unnerved, alike by the blow the god had given him and by the spear-wound, drew back under
cover of his men in fear for his life. Hector on this, seeing
him to be wounded and giving ground, forced his way through the
ranks, and when close up with him struck him in the lower part
of the belly with a spear, driving the bronze point right
through it, so that he fell heavily to the ground to the great
of the Achaeans.” I think the reason Wolfgang didn’t want to make Patroclus die
by a spear to the belly was to show more action between the Greeks and the
Trojans.
What the Iliad says happened in the fight between Achilles
and Hektor.
Hektor faces Achilles when he loses his nerve and runs
around the city walls of troy 3 times. Zeus looks down upon Hektor and feels
sorry for him and tells Athena to go down and do what she wants without
restraint. Athena then confronts Achilles telling him to face Hektor and she
says to Achilles that she’ll persuade Hektor to do the same. Athena then
disguises as Hektors’ brother known as Deiphobus who came to Hektor to tell him
that they will go fight Achilles together (Priam had many wives so therefore he
had many children).Hektor is Thrilled that his own brother would come out of
troy to help fight Achilles with him. Hektor then confronts Achilles to say
“it’s time to end the chase”-N.S. Gill, about.com guide quotes. Hektor then
tries to make a pact between Achilles saying that they will return each other’s
bodies whoever dies. Achilles responds with “There are no binding oaths between
lions and men”- Book XXII of the Iliad. Achilles then hurls his spear at Hektor
but Hektor ducks and it flies past him. Hektor does not see that Athena had
retrieved Achilles Spear and then Hands it back to Achilles. Hektor taunts
Achilles saying that he didn’t know the future after all. Hektor then says it’s
his turn and he hurls his spear at Achilles which hits but glances of the
shield. Hektor then calls upon Deiphobus to bring him his lance but soon
realises that he was tricked by Athena and realises his end is near. Hektor
then draws his sword and swoops down on Achilles. Achilles knew the weaknesses
of Hektors amour and so with that knowledge Achilles finds a weak spot on Hektors’
amour and throws his spear swiftly into Hektors’ collarbone. Achilles then says
to the prince of troy that his body will be mutilated by dogs and birds. Hektor
then curses upon Achilles telling him that Paris will kill him at the Scaean
gates with the help of Apollo. Hektor then dies and Achilles pokes holes in
Hektors ankles and ties stings threw them and attaches the rope to his chariot
dragging his body in the dust.
Differences in the movie:
-In the movie Troy by Wolfgang Peterson the movie doesn’t
include the gods in way it is explained in the Iliad instead their names were mentioned.
I think the reason wolfgang didn’t include this was because he didn’t want to
make the movie to long and he probably didn’t have the budget to do so.
-In the Iliad it says that Hektor had ran away from Achilles
and ran around the walls of troy three times in the movies this wasn’t shown
instead he faced him with no fear. I think the reason Wolfgang did this was to
show that Achilles and Hektor were both equal.
-In the movie it doesn’t show Athena intervening between the
fight of Achilles and Hektor in fact she’s not even mentioned in the movie at
all. I think the reason Wolfgang didn’t include this was because this would
have extended the movie time by a lot.
-In the movie Deiphobus wasn’t shown or mentioned in the
movie at all. This is shown by the video of the fight scene at the bottom. I
think Wolfgang didn’t include him because this would extended the movie time by
a lot.
Similarities between the movie and the poem
-In the movie it feature one of the quotes from the Iliad
“There are no binding oaths between lions and men”- Book XXII of the Iliad.
-In the movie Hektor did get pierced in the collarbone by
Achilles Spear. I think the reason Wolfgang included this was to make sure he
was getting as much information on the fight as possible. This is shown by this
quote “Achilles strike him as he was coming on towards him, and
the point of his spear went right through the fleshy part of the neck, but it did not sever his windpipe so that he could still speak.’’
