Helen's Silent Shame and Remorse Luz-Victoria Santana College

An exegetical essay on the following passage:

Iliad. III.442-524: From “Then off she went herself to summon Helen...” all the way to “irresistible longing lays me low”.

Lines before this passage, Paris was in combat with Menelaus on the verge of being killed until Aphrodite arose and rescued the magnificent Paris. The goddess brought Paris through the walls of Troy and to his room, safe from any warrior. At the beginning of this passage, Aphrodite has sought out Helen to bring her to comfort Paris. Aphrodite describes Paris’s irresistible looks to Helen, expecting they will leave her running for Paris. One must take in account that Aphrodite is the originator of this relationship as she promised to give Paris the most beautiful woman, Helen. Thereby Aphrodite has witnessed this relationship from its very beginning. Although never stated in the epic, one must consider the possibility that this may not be the first time that Aphrodite intervened in their relationship. As previously mentioned, when Aphrodite calls Helen to join Paris she tries to lure Helen by describing Paris’s tantalizing beauty. It is important to note that Paris had just come back from being defeated by Helen’s old husband Menelaus. However, Aphrodite only...