The Shield of Achilles
Thetis goes to Olympus to see the God Hephaestus to ask him about making her son Achilles a new shield. Achilles shield had been taken in war by Hector when he kills Achilles friend. Thetis wants this shield to protect her son and to be a work of art. In Homers version, the shield is a picture of hope and strength. In Auden version, Hephaestus does not put the same optimism in the designs on the shield. Two different writers have taken entirely different views on this shield.
In the start of the poem that Auden wrote, Thetis is looking over Hephaestus shoulder. She wants to see all the beautiful things in life. She wants to see lush green trees and grass. All the beautiful cities with lots of prosperity. Ships that were ready to sail without a scratch. Many animals to sacrifice and plenty to eat. She wanted to see athletes and dancing men and women, all the beautiful things that life could offer.
What Thetis saw Hephaestus making…show more content… It was not a glorious time where everything was perfect. Fields were burned; cities were destroyed. Men died, and women were taken as slaves children beat and or killed. The soldiers lost hope and just wanted it to be over. It was not a party it wasn’t a sometime to be celebrated. Homer describe the shield as art with all the luxuries of life. All the happiness put on one shield for Achilles. In the shield, he has everything that a man could want. It was gorgeous with designs of perfect cities, with plenty of food and drink. All the people were happy.
War was not a glorious time when everything was perfect. The soldiers lost hope and just wanted it to be over. It was not a time to be celebrated. Homer describes the shield as art with all the luxuries of life. Everything that could possibly make Achilles happy was put into the shield. In the shield, he has everything that a man could want. It was gorgeous with designs of perfect cities with plenty of food and
