Was It Really Worth It?

 Recently, I became more and more intrigued about Greek mythology and after reading the Iliad and the Odyssey a thought lingered with me , Was it really worth it ? 

The first scenario that came in my mind is when Odysseus has to leave his home , abandon his child and wife behind, his kingdom in ruins . He knew that he would not be back anytime soon , yet duty and promises became his priority . The book ‘The Odyssey’ seemed a bittersweet story of battling one's own struggle to return back home . The thought of home kept them alive . 

Similarly ,in the Iliad , due to Paris' actions,  Hector had to intervene as the defender of the Trojans. He knew that once he was out of the palace gates he was not returning back home . He knew his newborn child would be fatherless and his wife left all alone . Yet again duty and responsibilities took over his will to stay back . 

Achilles who although prophesied to be born to fight this tragic war , lost his previous life in vain all for avenging Patroclus. 

The war cries weren't just heard in the battlefield alone but in the hearts and minds of every person who were fighting their will to stay alive lighting their candles of hope.

In my opinion , the epics are a tale of the miserable life one leads when war strikes their life. The shadows of psychological trauma and dark clouds of fears of the unknown swipes their lifestyle of bright sunny days .

So I don't think it was worth fighting for . Especially knowing that each side had their political agendas and gains from this war overthrowing the tides of despair it was going to bring with it . There was room for compromise but only through blood and tears could one's side of victory be cleansed . 

Sometimes in order to restore peace , we end up losing ours , just as what unfolds in the Great Tragic War .

I will conclude my article with the opening line of the Odyssey by Homer to let this article simmer into our minds and start our journey of reaching our Ithaca.

"Tell me, Muse, of the man of many ways, who was driven far journeys, after he had sacked Troy’s secret citadel. Many were they whose cities he saw, whose minds he learned of, many the pains he suffered on his spirit on the wide sea, struggling for his own life and the homecoming of his companions. Even so he could not save his companions, hard though he strove to; they were destroyed by their own wild recklessness, fools, who devoured the oxen of Helios, the Sun God, and he took away the day of their homecoming. From some point here, goddess, daughter of Zeus, speak, and begin our story."

See you on your glorious conquest  ,

                                                                                                                           -AnniX13