Thunder without Lightning

Zeus must be an example not only to the 
other gods but also to the rest of the humanity. 

No questions ask, he is the king. He is the ever powerful god that overthrown his Father Cronus. Cheating on his wife Hera and hooking up with so many mortal maidens, Zeus produced ninety million offspring. Then, the almighty horny sees the earth an overpopulated one that is why he used the TROJAN WAR as a mean to depopulate the earth, specially his demigod descendants (since he does not want to take the fate of his father being overthrown by his own offspring).

Indeed, as for the Greeks, Gods are personalities with human failings. The king of the gods, who should have set an example of justice and equality to all failed to do so; rather, it is evident in Book 11 of the Iliad that this Zeus favored the Trojans thus making them outshine the Achaean group. Diomedes even interprets Zeus’s acts of favoritism to mean that Zeus has singled out the Trojans for ultimate victory. At the same time, however, the epic frequently reminds us of a second case of divine plotting: according to soothsayers, Troy is fated to fall. Homer builds dramatic tension by juxtaposing this prophecy with vivid descriptions of the Achaeans’ sufferings and setbacks. He constantly tempts us with the expectation of Trojan defeat while dashing this prospect with endless examples of the Trojans’ success under Zeus’s partiality. Ultimately, we feel unable to trust either set of signs.

Now, is Zeus a fair god? 
Are the olympian gods fair as well? 

Thank you for reading, see you on the next blog!

Which is really sticker, BLOOD OR WATER?

          Of all the characters in the book Iliad, Hector is the one I would most like the officials in our government to emulate. He is admirably, worthily, credibly, laudably and estimably one altruistic leader who would give everything, take the risk, leave his family, sacrifice his whole for the good of his fellowmen, the Trojans. I was unexpectedly electrified with a scene somewhere in the book where Andromache, the wife, embraced Hector with so much love and anxiety. Hector was then requested by Andromache to leave the Trojans in their battle and to stay with her and the children. The battle was outrageously intense, as she saw in the magical water form, that the name I am not certain still. Anyway, Hector is great. The demand was like, which is really sticker blood or water? 

          When we were discussing this scene in our English class, I was overexcited. Ten thousand thoughts entered not only my mind, but also my heart. Values started to nurture in me; ideas began to explode. I remembered one person in Hector’s persona. It was our very own contemporary patriot, Ninoy Aquino. Aquino then gave all of his ideas and virtues, took the risk of fighting against the government with his dignity and principles in his pocket, left Corazon Aquino, her wife and his children and sacrificed his time and his own life for the common good of the Filipinos. 

          Hector, and our local Ninoy, are the dudes I am looking up to. I may not be praying to the gods that I want the same drama to happen in my life, but if destiny wants it, I will always be very glad to welcome a scenario where I will choose my people, dedicate my life for my people, shout with pride for my people and die bloody but unbowed to my people. In this case, I may die but I am sure I will be blissful in the next life.

The Cunning Queen of Olympus

   

          HERA is a very jealous person but, she had every right to be. Her husband, Zeus, who is known to be "addicted" to sex and pleasure, would cheat on her with hundreds and thousands of mortal maiden. How can you deem a jealous one to be fair or equal in any aspect? 

           

          It is contradicting to say that "Hera is considered to be fair nor equal whenever she goes into battle." She is a jealous, cunning and manipulative goddess. To lure Zeus out of the Trojan war, she called on to her children to give her their powers. Of course, it is not easy because her children are Zeus' children, too. In order to to get what she wants, she made up stories that her children cannot refuse. For instance, to put Zeus into her bed and out of the Trojan war, she would need love and beauty. She approached Aphrodite to give her the power saying that the couple Oceanos and Thetis who brought her up are separated in bed and in board. To repay their kindness, she would persuade them and bring them together, using Aphrodite's power. With this in mind, Aphrodite readily agreed and gave her mother some power of love. She successfully lured Zeus into her bed and made him sleep. Due this, without their protector, Zeus, the Trojan lost the war to the Achaeans. Now, is that what you call "fair/equal" in battle?

It's Iliad by Homer!

So, I am launching a new blogspot.

This one is for our 2nd Quarter Project in Communication Arts in English. It's like a book report with a twist. Instead of submitting papers and hardcopies, my teacher decided to have a Virtual Classroom in blogging style. The link of this page will be submitted to http://boscoenglish.blogspot.com/, our "main page." Anyway, we are expected to read at least the Book 1-5 or Chapter 1-5 of the book this week. However, I have not even tried to read a single word in the book which I purchased a couple of weeks ago. What a joy. Though I have not yet started reading it, expect a new post from me by Thursday or Friday night.


HAKUNA MATATA.