The Illiad & Cheaters

Is it unfair to say that the foundation stone of Western literature is a story *dramatizing the consequences* of a wife abandoning her husband to run off with her lover?

I am considering The Illiad by Homer, which recounted a Trojan War attributed to Helen running off with Paris following the vanity competition of the goddesses.

Before you engage in a reflexive dismissal without consideration, note my emphasis on “dramatizing the consequences.” I am not disputing other analysis of the story but highlighting a neglected aspect which focuses on a contribution of female characters to the story.

I think the story can be seen as dramatizating the danger female infidelity poses to the community as a whole. Frankly, this risk is the root of cultural practices around the ancient world that are framed as barbaric and patriarchal today.

I am not considering this from my individualist perspective but from the perspective of Homer’s Age. In our modern framing we neglect the central role of the polis and the precarious nature of civil peace.

It is essential to understand that Homer comes before Solon and Aristotle. Our traditional analysis can put the cart before the horse. Homer influenced Solon and Aristotle, not the other way around. Homer is a more ancient Greek.

The last scene of The Odyssey supports my heterodox perspective on civil peace in those stories in that divine intervention was required to prevent a slaughter between Odysseus and the families of the dead suitors. Athena-revealed gives a speech about it, which ends the stories.

Across the two stories, Penelope is the anti-Helen. Penelope is Hera to Helen’s Hedone.

While I am not advocating any traditionalism, I do hold that it is important to understand the premises behind a tradition, instead of reflexive disobedience to reputed inherited revealed truth or blind obedience to the same.

Consider the consequences of female promiscuity and infidelity in our contemporary culture. Not calling for government regulation of women but instead individual judgement, accountability, and not protecting them from the consequences of their poor choices…give them to Nemesis (aka reality).