Aphrodite The Standard Of Femininity And Mortality Essay

Aphrodite: the Standard of Femininity and Mortality in the Iliad In the story of the Iliad, an epic focusing on mortality and its flaws, the immortal gods often contrast with the tragic and heroic nature of the story . No god shows this more than Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sexual relations. Her appearances on the battlefield are few and far in between, but when she does appear it leaves a lasting impression on our mind, since she acts so differently than the honor-filled men of the epic. Her function as a feminine woman and as a divine being both work together to create this idea of someone that belongs to a sphere so different than the masculine one presented us. Wherever she is, her startling appearance in the bloodshed as an immortal woman makes the manliness and heroic nature of others are all the more prominent. But not only does serve as a contrast for the fighting men, but she also serves as a model for the women of the epic, who are defined by the opposition to the men. She creates and upholds the standard to which the other women follow, and is there to ensure that women do not stray from this mold. This essay will specifically address the times where she appears to mortal women, mortal men, and that she acts as an immortal being, as well their corresponding effects in highlighting certain aspects of the epic. In doing so, this essay will postulate that only in the presence of its opposite can one truly appreciate that which one is presented with. As the