Women, Heroism and the First World War PP128

Angie Hobbs (2020) proposes a definition of a hero traditionally as conceived in the Western
tradition and Ancient Greece. This definition is “Someone who does or creates something
which is viewed as to be the great benefit to their community’. In addition, this action or
creation must be something most people find it impossible to do or create. The final
requirement of a hero prevalent in traditional conceptions of a hero is that they must go
beyond the call of duty. In addition, she stipulates that heroism is a subjective notion. In
that, it’s always a society or at least one person who must regard you as a hero. As it’s
always an external group of people who insist on the act being above and beyond, while the
agent themselves are convinced they were just doing their duty.

As a consequence, Angie Hobbs concludes, one can find out a great deal about an individual,
group or society and their values by finding out who their heroes are. They tell us what a
society cares most deeply about, and what people would like to be in some cases.

Angie Hobbs- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b04g6mn1-Angie

The definition of a hero is a partly subjective notion. So a culture or society’s notion of a

hero can tell you a lot about them.

The basic structure of a hero’s journey is less of a slippery concept. It usually involves……..

Homer’s Achilles is the archetypal Greek Hero. He is the greatest soldier of the Greek army
that goes to Troy. Supremely brave, skilled and fast. Though he retires to his ten and refuses
to fight for awhile when his leader Agamemnon dishonours him. He’s also the most complex
of the heroes, motivated by love, comradeship and a desire for glory. He’s half-divine being
the son of a goddess and mortal king.

Achilles must decide between two fates, either early death and glory, or a long and mediocre
existence in his homeland.

Modern Heroism is less about bravery and power, it’s more about fighting for democracy
and the common good. Colonel Tim Collins describes modern heroism to him meaning being
recognised by your peer group as having done something extraordinary and beyond the call
of expected duty. Those who choose to take the risk for others, knowing full well the
consequences for whatever reason. E.G. goes back into the fire, going to the scene of a
bomb to save a wounded child. Soldiers facing certain death for their countries is often
what’s considered bravery and heroism. Colonel Tim Collins cites Nelson Mandela who
remained imprisoned for decades and then preached reconciliation as an example of a hero
who endured adversity over a long period, which in his eyes is in the upper echelon of
admirability. But one has to wonder if the definition of a hero in the modern sense is skewed
towards the agenda. As the Apartheid South African government deemed him a terrorist,
while he alongside his supporters viewed himself as a freedom fighter.
Another requirement of a hero by Tim Collins is being selfless. A humbleness in regard to the
act is required of the hero. But the example given is airplane pilot who is simply doing their
job despite doing a noble act of heroism in saving people from death. This requirement
implies that one is not a hero even if the act is heroic if it is apart of their regular duty. As it’s
reasoned they didn’t choose for the crisis to happen, they simply acted as they usually
would. This necessitates humbleness as one has no other option than to conduct their duty
despite the added pressure.

Military historian Sir Max Hastings reasons that to be a hero, there must be an element of
unselfishness in anything that qualifies as a heroic act, alongside an element of sacrifice as
well. The hero has to be one that stays on the burning bridge to save the ship. Or one who
risks their life to save someone, for him it has to have a voluntary element, to make a choice
to qualify as a true hero.

For him, moral courage is distinct and should be placed above normal courage as seen in
war.

However, in the Iliad Achilles is prepared to and succeeds in achieving ruthless revenge in
order to avenge his beloved Patroclus, against Hector. In addition, Achilles has a very strong
sense of self, as he’s very conscious of his demi-god status and in Greek society at the time,
there was a strong emphasis put on glory.

There seem to be two competing ideas of heroism, the classical Greek notion prescribed the
normative value of virtue. At the time this entailed glory, strength, power, bravery, and battle
prowess. Which in context were the things which were necessary for the survival of Greek
civilisation in an era of constant wars and instability. It was fleeting and instinctual.

However modern heroism is more of a sustained effort towards selfless duty and going
above one's duty. It even entails the moral courage to go against the grain, even against the
society of one’s time. It gets even more complicated with fame and people having personal
heroes who are largely unknown.

It seems that modern-day heroes have taken on a relativism that’s been historically
dependent on culture, and society, but these days it’s a lot more fractured. As some relate
more to sports superstars and movie stars rather than soldiers on the battlefield. The
common denominator is extraordinary people who have traits that are not in the admirer.
E.G. Muhammed Ali stands up for his anti-Vietnam war beliefs, as well as being a ridiculously
talented boxer.

Some people believe heroism and celebrity are at odds. In this line of thought, Heroes have
to be unsung. Celebrities can be famous for being controversial and not for any particular
act. So it argues that heroism cannot be tied to the endless attention of the masses and
obsession with the individual.

The relativism of heroes these days is a prominent problem. These days one culture’s hero is
another’s villain. This has resulted in the subjectivity of heroes. Some see Achilles as brave
hero and others see him as a reviled savage. Even in the Illiad, Achilles is both praised for his
valour and skill, and criticise for vengefulness and brutality by both his peers, enemies and
the gods. He is a complex character that reflects the ambivalent nature of heroism especially
when it relates to war and violence. Especially when it comes to the ferocity of his violence.

Sir Max Hastings even comments that there’s an extremely thin line between heroism and
recklessness as states that most soldiers who get Victoria Cross honours, and medals of
honours are more on the side of crazy. Rational people don’t typically do heroic stuff in war
according to Hastings, as rushing forward in the heat of battle often entails danger and
certain death. This highlights the individuality of the hero. Most of the time the hero is
singled out with the exclusion of the collective who also put their efforts to the deeds
attributed to the hero. In addition, heroism involved stepping out of line of what’s the norm.
Whether it’s battle formations, duties, and orders in the context of war.

Heroism can also be defined as taking up a challenge that you did not choose. It often
involves huge mental and physical strain. It is often dangerous, and life-threatening. I argue
the line between recklessness and heroism is the risks you pose to the people around you.
However, can an act of heroism no matter the danger be called reckless when you calculate
the risks involved and still go through it? I think not, as it involves a lot of reasoning and
courage that goes a little under recklessness. As the greatest rewards often involve great
sacrifice and toil, which explains why heroes are revered and are so rare. As not many
people are willing to put in the sacrifice and toil.

In Our Time-Heroism BBC Sounds

Melvyn Bragg and Angie Hobbes explore heroism and their place in classical society.

The origin of Hero comes from Homer. With the word heros applying to Ancient Greek
warriors who had great ability which of use to their communities.

It evolved to encompass the divine.

A hero has to have courage but it’s courage in a public sense, specifically in a great cause to
do with a great cause far larger than themselves. Courage is a virtue.

In the context of the Greek text’s heroism is more than just courage. You have to be
regarded as a hero by your community, you have to be of value to your community. For the
ancient Greeks, it didn’t matter whether your motivation was particularly altruistic, what
mattered was if you were of service to the community.

For example, Achilles is often motivated by a lust for glory and a desire for revenge which
doesn’t match up with modern definitions of heroism.

Achilles mother was Thetus a sea god. He was fighting in the war of Troy.

He symbolises a lot of the tensions of an ancient Greek hero. As on one hand he’s an
extraordinary soldier and fighter, supremely fast and capable but on the other hand his
aggression can tip over to acts of savagery. Which are criticised even in the Iliad. His actions
are dangerous. His own life is rather isolated and lonely.
His goddess's mother informs of the two choices given by the gods. Either he can win glory
and die young or live a mediocre existence of long life in his homeland, without glory.

Patroclus dies due to Achilles' pride, and he knows he has to avenge him for his honour.

Homer considered “low-born” characters unable to attain heroic stature due to their lack of
pedigree.

So a hero in Greek society was one that was half mortal and half divine.

Plato’s conception is one who puts the interests of the city and his fellow citizens first.

Aristotle defines two types of the greatness of soul, one is the refusal to submit to
dishonourable treatment. He cites Achilles as an example of that.
The other type of hero is one that calmly endures hardship, misfortune and whatever life
throws at you. Aristotle cites Socrates as an example.

In the Greek concept of a hero, courage is gendered and reserved for men. Bravery is initially
the key virtue of heroism but over time it metamorphs into more civic virtues. However it’s
not valued in the same way.

Even in Ancient Greek thought Achilles was judged as not ideal due to his end, as the Greeks
reasoned that if one’s end was as brash.

Angie Hobbs argues that statues and memorials are reflective of what the values of a given
society are and what they aspire to. She goes on to tell us that we can learn so much from a
community such as its values and its sense of identity through reflecting and examine who
they revere through their public monuments, the people and events they choose to
commemorate. Which people they think no longer reflect their values and aspirations.
PP128

Homer The Iliad Summarised

The Iliad is a story written by Homer focused on the ninth year of the Trojan War. The Trojan
War starts due to Menelaus’s wife Helen being kidnapped by the Trojan Paris. The kings who
swore an oath, all go to war rescue Helen, and sack the Trojans. Achilles rushes to war for
everlasting glory.

Particularly central to the story is Achilles. It is clear that the war has been going for nine
years, and that the Ancient Greeks have had the upper hand against Troy due to Achilles,
and they only lose their edge once he refuses to fight.
In book 1 Nine years into the Trojan War, Agamemnon dishonours Achilles by taking his
slave girl. Thus causing Achilles, his most powerful soldier, to refuse to fight. On one hand,
Achilles is committing an act of subordination towards his superior, on the hand in the
context of Greek society at the time Honour was a key value. This isn’t even considering
Achilles's demi-god status.

Achilles even goes as far as almost murdering Agamemnon, which is a high count of treason
in any society, it’s only the intervention of the goddess Athena which stops him.

Achilles even goes beyond not helping his side in the war, by praying to his goddess mother
Thethus to get Zeus to help the Trojans. Achilles is willing to make his own side lose the war
due to spite.

Only when Patroclus gets killed by Hector due to Achilles sending him out in his armour,
does Achilles decide to fight for revenge and honour? As Hector is parading around in his
honour, this deeply offends Achilles.

Despite his mother Thetus’s protests in which she prophesizes that he’ll die if he fights, he
goes to fight.

He easily slaughters huge portions of the Trojan army, turning the tide of war. He finally kills
Hector, refusing his pleas for mercy. He then parades his body around Troy in a despicable
act denounced even by his peers. When Hector’s father King Priam begs for his Son’s body,
he initially refuses, but then changes his mind, and calls for a ceasefire and prepares for
funeral arrangments. He eventually gets struck down by an arrow and dies.

Achilles is described as wrath incarnate, murderous and doomed. Who caused the Achaeans
countless lives in the first paragraph of the Illiad. Which suggests The Iliad is the story of
wrath, of Achilles, and the Gods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLodQGpIpIs. Legends Summarized: The Trojan War.

Overly Sarcastic Productions. 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3bn0eKt4Rw. What's the point of the Iliad? (or why

book 24 is actually the climax). Overly Sarcastic Productions. 2018.

It can be argued the Iliad is the story of Achilles rage as book 1 begins when Agamemnon
steals Briseis, whose Achilles war bride. Achilles the Achaean’s greatest soldier, decides to sit
out the war condemning his side to many losses. After Patroclus dies he causes the Trojans
massive losses on his way to reek vengeance on Hector. After that he drags Hector’s body
through troy. Afterwards King Priam begs Achilles to return his body to Troy, he eventually
acquiesces. This is contrary to his famous rage.

As the very first word of the Iliad is Menin meaning rage. It suggests the story that Achilles'
wrath is the main message of the poem and story.

The irony is Hector in Book 7, is concerned about the victor between him and the Greek
champion returning the loser's body for the funeral, which is in stark contrast to the
treatment Achilles gives him later on.
In Book 9 Amegmanon realises his mistake after being trashed by Nestor, and Diomedes.
After being persuaded Agamenon accepts his fault and tries to placade Achilles with gifts if
he abondons his anger. On top of this Odyseus, Ajax and his former tutur Pheonix as an
embassy attempt to reason with Achilles. Odyseuss rightfully points out the great danger
facing their comrades, and most importantly appeals to Achilles sense of pity and loyalty to
his comrades, alongside his desirre for glory. Phenoix makes it clear that Achilles anger is
justified to a point. As Agamemnon’s gifts and offer represent the highest honour and an
overall recompensation of the earlier dishonour. However even after pleas with reference to
obligation of the son to the father, of the young to their elders, Achilles refuses to fight.
Against all reason.

Plato and the Hero-Angie Hobbs

Thumos as referenced many times by Plato in the republic is typically ascribed to the
Auxilraies. It is usually translated as spirit or spiritedness. It’s precise meaning in the
Republic is dubious. PP3

Nusbaum simply relates it with “the appetitive element of the person apart of the non-
inteeluctual elements” PP4

In the Illiad, thumos is a general word for the passions particularly anger. PP8

By many authors it’s associaited with rage, of the passions, and breath. Angie hobbs
suggests it’s best viewed as life force and from it comes fierceness, courage and anger.

The word valour is andreia which literally means manliness.

In the republic Socrates states Andreia meaning courage in this context requires thumos, and
it’s thumos which makes both humans and animals fearless and indomitable. PP9

Angie Hobbs further states that whatever the precise meaning of Andreia is in the Republic,
both it and thumos are perceived as being useful primarily in war. PP10

A timocratic man is competitive, self-willed, ambitious for political office and possessed of a
good military record. He has some interest of the arts, but is inarticulate; he is more
interested in physical exertion and hunting. They are also some whose very much for
traditional hierarchies, and is obedient to the political authorities but harsh to slaves. This
definition is according to Plato. PP28

Plato is clear to emphasise how thumoedic impulses without the guidance of reason differ
from their ideal manifestion. Glory and recognition sought for their own sake as opposed to
confirmation of one’s own ability to respond to the fine and nobel. PP29

The traditional worldview voiced throughout homer and the generally conservative choruses
of Greek tragedy is that some virtues are specifically male and female and that virtues man
will necessarily display different to from those women display. In the Archaic period, man
was most defined by the value of being effecting in battle. Which involves a couple of factors
such as physical strength, and speed, technical skill, and courage. Of these courage was seen
as the most important and in practice Andreia most of the time implies courage. Most of
notions of manliness and courage in this time are linked inextricably. Pp69

Hobbs goes on to state that the word almost seems to suggest praise of an event, the event
of a man performing courageous acts, exclusively on a battlefield. Furthermore Hobbs points
out that in Aristotle’s Nichomean Ethics, where andreia is defined as risking one’s life in the
noblest circumstances. Which Aristotle describes death in warfare as an example, as he
explains it’s where the danger is the greatest and most noble. Pp70

Angie Hobbs argues that Plato sees Achilles as the archetypical example of thumos gone
wrong. As they describe Achilles as a terrible warning of what can happen to a man when he
is dominated by his thumoedic elements.PP199

She then states Socrates focuses on Achilles due to his appeal to thumodeic types and
because he wants to argue forcibly that such attraction is misguided. PP200

Hobbes wisely points out that it’s not difficult to show that Homer’s Achilles embodies many
of the traits of the thumos in the republic and of the timocratic state. Achilles encapsulates
bravery and warlike tendencies, and his aggressiveness is especially aroused when he feels
he has been wronged. Hobbs claims he’s the most prominent example of anger in Greek
literature. PP200

However according to Angie Hobbs, Socrates has no interest at all in presenting a fair and
well rounded picture of Achilles complex character. Instead he’s focused only with his
thumoedic nature. PP201

“Socrates is clearly worried Auxiliaries might be prone to the hero-worship of the glamorous
Achilles, whose exploits were so much of the culture that in the Ars Rhetorica, Aristotle says
that when mentioning him as an example, it is enough to name him as ‘everyone knows his
deeds’. PP201

Hobbs further points out that Achilles is a very inappropriate role model for the civic defence
force Socrates wishes for. As while Achilles is brave and skilful, and motivated by a highly
motivated notion of kalon, he can also be wild, bloodthirsty and unruly. Notably, he’s also
highly hateful and insubordinate to his commander-in-chief Amegnamon. As a result he
comes close to undoing nine years hard labour on the Achaens part single handed. PP201

Achilles is not suited for hoplite warfare which requires discipline and resolution to follow
orders, as his yearning for individual glory would prove too much.PP201

Socrates cites Achilles brutal attack on Agamemnon as “You wine-sack, with the eyes of a
dog, and the courage of a doe” and Socrates states such lines must be held back as they
rarely encourage self-control. Socrates further cites Achilles verbal attack on Apollo as also
being condemned, as his refusal to listen to the river god Scamander and his willingless to
fight him. PP202
Socrates point is clear, Achilles thumos is in a state of complete insubordination to reason
and in consequence he displays full disregard to reason and show nothing but arrogance in
his eyes, towards his supposed rightful masters, whether mortal or divine. PP202

However Socrates critique is biased by his agenda of a Philosopher-Ruler which is in stark

contrast to his heroic status which provokes problems for Socrates vision. PP202

Angie Hobbs, agrees that the egoistic Homeric hero and the state that admires Achilles may
even unintentionally give space for the rise of a tyrant. PP202

“Hobbs points out that it’s significant that at some point, Achilles is said to be in state of
disorder. The word tarache pointing to a sense of the irrational elements of Achilles soul
rebelling against rational control. Socrates is adamant that it is internal disorder which is the
cause of some of Achilles most atrocious acts, such as dragging Hector’s corpse round the
tomb of Patroclus and slaughtering the young prisoners at his pyre”. PP203

These acts are apart of Socrates denouncement of the terrible and impious things which
sons of gods and heroes are said to have dared. PP 204

Achilles is far more extreme than that exemplified by the timocratic man, as the latter
remains a disciplined soldier, while Achilles goes really wild at times. But while the timocratic
man has some training in rational pursuits, Achilles has no background in this.

Hobbs points out that Socrates is justified in his harsh criticism of Achilles as even Achilles'
actions are protested by various characters. Such as Patroclus for example who describes his
mind as “as so harsh and unyielding”, and Apollo who condemns Achilles treatment of
Hector’s corpse. “So there is not in him any shame…….he does dishonour to the dumb earth
in his fury”. PP205

The Illiad’s condemnation of Achilles also particularly cite his thumos as the root of the
issue. Apollo, Ajax, and his former mentor Pheonix articulating how his thumos has been
corrupted by arrogance and wrath. PP205

Hobbs rightfully points out that’s there’s good evidence that Socrates was right to fear that
young men might emulate the less savoury aspects of Achilles character. As for example it’s
clear that Alexander the Great’s hero-worship was the cause of his most repulsive acts.
PP206

Achilles is lonely hero, isolated by his actions and desires. As Nestor says of Achilles, “he will
enjoy his own valour in loneliness, though I think he will weep much, too late, when his
peoples are perished form him” when Patroclus is killed, Achiless is indeed alone, and he
does weep much, too late. He certainly exemplifies the risks of the thumos dominated life.
PP229

However, as Hobbes points out, Socrates is deliberately leaving out much of the Illiad’s
complexity. But his message is clear the untrained thumos, bent on elusive time is always
prone to bring disaster to both society and it’s possessor. PP210
Hobbes seeks to counter that Achilles is not alone. She argues that Achilles embodies
thumodic qualities good and bad, which arise from the worldview in the Illiad and from his
time.

As Hobbes points out the world of the Illiad is one where not only time but all
goods are vulnerable. Furthermore the world of the illiad is rule is “harsh and
arbitratory” ruled by capricious deities. PP211

Thus she she argues that in such a world it is understandable tjat thumodic
characteristics will achieve prominence, whether as prized virtues or simply as
a natural response. PP212

As due to this life of thumos, it’s victotries and prizes matters, and the
competitive type of andreia requires to win them. Which thus may often lead
the hero to death, and brutal acts.

Hobbs further states that it is because the people and things that we value are
so vulnerable and in limited supply, that the action needed to secure and guard
them will often take the form of naked aggression.

Angie hobbs further states that the perception of death is crucial to this
defense. As if death is hateful and final then glory and a lasting name maybe
thought to matter as much as compensation.

Achilles is painfully aware of his approaching end and also regards death as
loansome and grim. Most important is that because of his own awareness of
his pending doom, he places major importance on time.

This is crucuial for Hobbs as it is the connection between the acknowledged

fact of mortality and the desire for glory which is central to the plot of the Iliad.
As Achilles decision to not fight was due to his fellow Achaeans not honoruing
as he deserved. So in his mind there was no point to fight and rish death. In
addition of all the characters Achilles awareness of the death is keenest, which
is tied to his lust for blood, which is also the fiercest.

Furthermore Hobbs points out that the in the world of the Illiad harsher and
more uncertain may provide more oppurtunities for courage to be developed.
As the Illiad depicts a world of war, while the Republic does not.

This fact suggests that taken to the extreme it can lead to approval or the
active promotion of war to be the essential condition for being a man.
Plato and Aristotle say that it’s signs of a degenerate timocratic state that they
prefer peace to war. Hobbes thus points out where Menelaus says that Helen
done Greece a favour by causing a war for the conlflict has brought Greek men
a reason to be brave and manly.

So it seems in this world war is a critical part of becoming a man. Even at the
cost of boys not growing old enough to be men.

Hobbs further states that Achilles actions and speeches show that he knows his
brand of heroism requires a battlefield. PP215

Nietzsche points out this Ancient Greek attitude to war and heroism as he
praises the ancient heroes as wild and noble beasts, roaming in search of booty
and victory.

Which is in stark contrast to the views endorsed in the Republic. Although the
ideally just state accepts war, it accepts it as an eveil necessitated by the
introduction of more sophisticated tastes and activities. It’s preffered state is
peace. Military heroes may be rewarded but war itself is neither celebrated nor
promoted. Which is very close to the modern view of heroism and war. PP215