Character: Paris Flashcards
What is distinctive about Paris ?
His physical appearance
How is Paris physically described ?
- Paris is the ideal cosmetic hero
book 3 - Homer describes Paris as ‘godlike’ in an epithet regarding his physical appearance and often focuses on his armour such as his ‘horse hair plume’ or ‘leopard’s skin’ cloak however this is the only element of Paris that he commends in his description
- Hector too describes Paris as being good for nothing but his ‘wonderful looks’ and how the Greeks must laugh because he is seen to be a Trojan hero of only looks
- He is clearly a handsome hero which is a conventional aspect for a hero however this is where the positives cease
- It seems overwhelmingly apparent from both the poets description and the characters within the epic that Paris is good for only his looks
- he is cosmetically the part of the hero but this is a mere facade as he lacks any other wartime heroic qualities
How is Paris portrayed in battle ?
- Paris does not display the attitude towards war fighting we might expect
- he had a facade of courage yet when faced by enemies he retreats or fails to display any warrior prowess
book 3 - confidently marches to the front of the Greek ranks but upon seeing Menelaus he retreats ‘terrified’ of Menelaus
- Moreover, he suggest a duel with Menelaus giving the false impression Paris has some level of warrior skill to him
- However, in the duel Menelaus easily gets the upper hand nearly killing Paris by choking him however Aphrodite whisks him off the battlefield to safety
- Homer paints a picture of a hero that is not imposing or admirable in the battle for his courage or skill unlike hero’s such as Achilles or Diomedes
- Instead Paris is attempting to fill the shoes of a role he is not built for
How is Paris regarded and treated by the gods ?
- Paris often receives help from Aphrodite however this is the only form of immortal aid and it is often in juxtaposition to what we would accociate as heroic
- In book 3, Hector voices this telling Paris ‘Aphrodites gifts, your lovely locks and pretty face’ Will not help in the fray of war
- it is merely cosmetic and does not aid him becoming a heroic warrior
- Later in book 3, Aphrodite saves Paris from his duel with Menelaus but this is terribly unheroic as he is whisked back to oikos life which would be associated with the feminine- unheroic and not admirable
How does Paris react to criticism and why is this an element important to his character?
Often does accept his criticism and shows an air of self control
- in book 3, he is scorned by Hector and instead of an angered response more typical of a hero such as Odysseus or Hector Paris responds calmly
- he tells Hector ‘your taunts are justified’ and ‘nothing more than I deserve’
- Later he responds to Helen’s anger admits he lost and Menelaus won however he doesn’t display much depth in his apology soon asking if they could retire to bed
- He does show a level of self control and acceptance which is admirable for a hero however the extent and depth to which this pervades into his actions is limited
How does Paris show acceptance for his role in the war ?
book 3
- During the heat of the battle Paris tells Hector it was his fault for the war as he took Helen from Menelaus
