preview

Summary Of Homer 's ' The ' Sleep '

Better Essays

Nayla Basma
Professor Meisel
Literature Humanities- Sec. 23
3 October 2015
To Sleep, or Not to Sleep?
In Homer’s Iliad, sleep–albeit a seemingly simple verb–is a multifaceted concept that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of humanity within various characters of the epic poem. On one hand, sleep is viewed as something to be avoided, a weakness bound to result in destructive consequences. On the other hand, sleep is a tool that provides restoration and gives one a respite from their reality, whether it be temporarily or permanently. Together, the two features of sleep portray the humanity of a breadth of characters, ranging from the fully mortal Diomedes to the the all-powerful Zeus. In the end, it is clear to the readers that although the central figures within the poem constantly strive to perform at an “immortal” level, the mortal element of sleep consistently arises, humanizing the Homeric characters of the Iliad and glorifying the human experience.
The concept of sleep is critical to our understanding of the leaders and warriors within the story, whose survival is contingent on being prepared for battle at all times. To illustrate, consider the Thracian king and his twelve soldiers, who are all killed in Book X by both Odysseus and Diomedes while sleeping. Sleep thus must be eschewed, since it is proven to be a time when vulnerability surfaces. Contrary to the Thracian king, King Agamemnon fails to sleep due to his trepidations for his people’s future:
The

Get Access