Today is sooo much easier than the previous. I finally started to work out a plan for attacking these classical monsters. May I say that my Mom helped come up with the idea. There is an overflow of information out there on the internet. Why not use it. There are many greater minds before me who have already learned and condensed the information that I'm trying to assimilate. Thank God for SparkNotes. I just read the small summary of the chapter that I'm reading beforehand. That way I know what to look for. Makes it sooooo much easier. On to Chapter 6.
Chapter 6
It doesn't look good for the Trojans. Diomedes is still striking fear into the hearts of the Trojans. They're being forced back. Farther and Farther back they go. One highlight occurs when Menelaos happens upon Adrestos who had the grand misfortune of his horses breaking free of his chariot. Which unfortunatley leaves him stranded.
He pleads for his life. His family will pay a grand ransom for his return he says. Menelaos likes this plan. But here comes kind-hearted Agamemnon. He wants every Trojan to suffer and die regardless. Who do you think Menelaos will listen to? Bye bye Adrestos.
Back with the Trojans Helenos urges Hektor to return to Troy and have his mother and the other "women of honor" pray to the goddess Athena for aide. Hektor speeds towards the city with all haste.
Back on the battlefield, Diomedes comes fact-to-face with Glaukos. Uncertain of who this man is Diomedes inquires as to his name and lineage. Glaukos reveals his name and lineage. He is son of Hippolochos. And lo' and behold! In an odd twist of fate, Diomedes' and Glaukos' families are old friends. Out of respect for the bond between their families, right there on the battlefield they make a pact not to fight with each other. (There are plenty of other enemies to kill on either side. RIGHT?!) This is a very fascinating attribute of the ancient Greeks. The sense of honor and respect on the battlefield. Diomedes didn't want to kill this man until he knew who he was. And once he found out.... what does he do. HE CALLS A TRUCE! All because of some friendship their grandfathers held. I don't know if all Greeks were like this, but it is fascinating to hear of this circumstance in any form.
We now find prince Hektor in the Priam's palace. He delivers Helenos' message to his mother, Hecuba, who then assembles all other "women of honor." The women head straight to the temple and begin their prayers to Athena, who sadly will not listen to the earnest supplication of Troy's wives and maidens.
Hektor then makes haste to Alexandros' room to bring him back to the fight. Alexandros reveals that he hasn't returned to the fight so that he may give himself over to sorrow. Which is very understandable. How would you feel if your stupid mistake was costing thousands of your country men their lives? How would you feed if thousands of wives and children would never see their husbands and father again, except on a funeral pyre. (Because of you.) Hektor and Helen scold him with harsh words until he agrees to return to battle. Helen really lays into him. Something about how she would rather have been dashed on sea rocks upon her birth than to belong to cowardly Alexandros. Alexandros then prepares himself while Hektor seeks out his wife and child for a few brief moments together before his return to battle
He first goes to his house only to find her not there. She has instead gone to the bastion of Troy out of a anxious, sorrowful spirit for her husband's inevitable death at the hands of the every strengthening Achaians. His wife, Andromache, begs him not to return to battle. She then reveals that it was Achilles who killed her entire family. Thus leaving her to equate Hektor as her mother, father, brother, and husband. He is all she has. But, alas, the wheels of fate have already begun spinning. And he must return to the fight. He then goes to embrace his young son, only a baby. His son, Astyanax, recoils at the sight of his terrifying helmet. He promptly chuckles before placing his helmet on the ground, and takes his son into his arms. He asks the blessings of Zeus upon his son. Then places him back into his wife's arms.
Alexandros then arrives. He and his brother head off to battle.
No comments:
Post a Comment