Do you see parallels between the soldiers in The Iliad and the current day? Is Achilles' relevant to current soldiers, or does it glamorizes warfare? How do you think the introduction of women into battle ranks changes this?

"The Iliad" is cited throughout the novel. Do you see parallels between ancient soldiers and current ones? Do you think Achilles' story could be relevant to current soldiers, or do you think it glamorizes warfare? How do you think the introduction of women into battle ranks changes this, if at all?

I think war transcends time and has affected both the bystanders and the warriors in the same way. Some will elect to write tales glorifying battle but the truth is war is more of a meat grinder chewing up young men and women and we are ill equipped to help them heal once they return home.

There will always be parallels between soldiers no matter what war they fought. Alexander the Great supposedly carried a copy of the Illiad with him and in 2007 we had Operation Achilles aimed at the Taliban. I guess it was the first book of war. Today we continue to glorify war in movies, leading soldiers to join in never expecting what the true realities of war are.

Never read The Iliad so can't say for sure. But think warfare in old literature was glamorized to a certain extent.

I don't think The Iliad glamorizes warfare, but admittedly, it's been a very long time since I read it. As I recall, women are a large part of the men's motivation for war, and a large part of their distraction from war. Using this reference, it is easy to see why women in battle is such a huge controversy. If one assumes all men are like the men in The Iliad, women on the battlefield will confuse and distract the men fighting alongside them. It is asking men to go against their nature (assuming the parallel with Achilles).

War is never different. Men die killing each other and soon, no one remembers why. Men can use any excuse they want to wage war. Women can be only one of the reasons. But the final decision is theirs. Sex is always a distraction.

I have never read the Iliad so I can't really make the comparison. I think there are similarities between soldiers throughout history. War is always hell.