I absolutely loved the discussion of Priam and Achilles today. One thing that has continued to amaze me in this story is the humanization of the characters. Typically, when we think of war we think of good vs. evil. The consistency in which the Iliad paints every character as a full and valuable human being amazes me. Even the struggle between Hector and Achilles there really isn't a good guy or a bad guy, there are just two guys fighting.
Priam epitomizes this when he begs the mercy of Achilles. He calls Achilles to remember his own father, and to allow him to grieve Hector, his own dead son. This kind of reconciliation can only happen between two people who see each other as equals. It simply cannot happen when one group of people has mentally dehumanized the other. So much the worse, then, when they actually do kill each other. They understand fully that they are killing a sacred being.
I like this. I think the Greeks are on to something about humanity.
I definitely agree that we usually don't see the evil person in a story as a person. Generally, we only see the bad things they do and forget that they are still one of us. I believe that we do this in the real world also, especially a lot of people who claim the name of Christ. Most look down on the people who "aren't as good as them" and refuse to love them, this is opposite to our calling in Christ.
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