Essay Database

After Diomedes wounds Ares, Ares immediately flies to mount Olympus to complain to Zeus. Zeus’ original reaction (5.1027-1030) is to compare Ares to his mother Hera. Zeus shows his anger towards Ares vividly and also lends to his compassion as his father. Zeus is torn here; we can see his emotions split not knowing which he should act upon. This compassion is a very human side of this great God. Zeus compares Ares unrationalized anger …

…reaction. First he is upset and disappointed. He then does everything in his power to stop his son’s pain. Homer has done well with bringing human characteristics to the Gods throughout this entire epic, which makes it easier for the reader to comprehend what is going on. We understand that parents and children have similar traits and this is brought out with Zeus’ comparison. In this scene Zeus has a very natural fatherly role.