Summary: The text discusses the themes of war and glory in Homer’s Iliad, highlighting the futility and suffering caused by conflicts like the Trojan War. It contrasts the romanticized view of war with the harsh realities faced by soldiers, as seen in poems by Tennyson and Kipling. Ultimately, it questions the justifications for war, suggesting that lofty ideals often mask the primal instincts driving human conflict.
Even today, when we analyse in its entirety, wars often appear futile. Politicians and generals secured in their positions and comfortably ensconced in their offices send the young to imminent death under the pretext of honour, glory, justice and other lofty ideals. (View Highlight)
This pattern of justifying wars with lofty ideals is not confined to ancient epics or theoretical frameworks—it permeates modern history as well. (View Highlight)