Homer’s Iliad is full of relationships: relationships between men and women, relationships
among families, and relationships between the key characters of the poem. These
relationships are characterized by the way the characters relate and communicate with each
other based on their social status, being age, genealogy, or title, whether they are male or
female, and whether they are family or not. Each relationship warrants different actions
and ways of communication.
Genealogy, status, and age play major roles in how characters communicate with each
other. The Iliad begins with Chryses attempting to ransom back his daughter, and
Agamemnon angrily denying him. “Then all the rest of the Achaians cried out in favour
that the priest be respected… but harshly he drove him away with a strong order upon
him…”[I:22]. First and foremost, the Achaians want the priest to be respected. He is of a
high title and of old age; two of the most valued qualities in Homer’s society. Despite the
priest’s status and age, Agamemnon’s power prevails and allows for Agamemnon to speak
to the priest in the terrorizing manner he does. Agamemnon is also referred to as “Atreus’
son Agamemnon”. The title links to genealogy, a recurring factor in the Iliad. Following
the genealogy circuit that has outlets in nearly every book, we see that most times,
genealogy determines the amount of respect one receives. For example, in Book Sixteen,
Patroklos, a dear friend to Achilleus, scolds Achilleus for not going to battle. ” But you,
Achilleus; who can do anything with you?…Cursed courage” [XVI, 29]. He follows with
this: “Pitiless: the rider Peleus was never your father nor Thetis was your mother, but it
was the grey sea that bore you and the towering rocks, so sheer the heart in you is turned
from us” [XVI, 33]. Saying that Acilleus has no genealogy, is the equivalent of a slap to
the face and gives Patroklos the right to speak to the great Achilleus in this manner.
Genealogy, status, and age are not limited to mortal relationships either. “Then in answer
again spoke Achilleus of the swift feet: ‘Goddess, it is necessary that I obey the word of
you two, angry though I am in my heart” [I, 215]. The gods are of the highest status. They
oversee and intervene in mortal actions, and no one can be above them. In this situation, as
well as others throughout the poem, we are met with the great respect that the characters in
