When I was thinking about what I would write, I looked back at my notes to see what stood out to me when I read the book and in class. I kept coming across the quote “Fate is the same for the man who holds back, the same if we fight hard. We are held in a single honour, the brave with the weaklings. A man still dies if he has done nothing, as one who has done much.”. I remembered how the arguent was raised, if this is true, then why do we even try? Why would Achilleus offer help to Agamemnon if it wouldn't matter in the end anyway? When I read things, I try to find a way for them to apply to me and what I can get from them. So when I read this again today, it sounded familiar. Then I remembered that Neil talked about this same kind of thing in True Spin. He read in Ecclesiastes and the author of the book poses the same question. Why? Why try for anything? He says everything in worthless and empty. This could be very discouraging, but then we read where it is “everything under the sun” that is worthless. Only the things of this earth. So as Christians we must remember that things here on earth are worthless. Anything we try to do on our own or even put in addition to God are empty. But the hope is that God gives meaning to everything. I just thought that was cool how we talked about that in class then Neil had a message that kind of went along with that.
And just a side note. I about died laughing when I read in book seven where they are having a duel to the death, but then they call it off because it got dark. Then the two exchange gifts and are beloved friends. It reminds me so much of when you were in middle school or junior high and someone could be your best friend one minute, then your worst enemy the next, then back to best friends again. I just thought that was funny. :)
I also commented on Malory's note.
Interesting post. Funny because I almost wrote on the same thing. The question "why" kept coming to me again and again after reading Book 9, Line 320. And, as you said, ironically enough, Neal did speak about this very topic in True Spin. Ecclesiastes came to mind over and over again. If man's fate is simply to die, does it really even matter which path Achille's chooses? It seems to me that if this was all there was to it then it wouldn't matter. I still haven't completely dealt with this issue in keeping with the philosophy of the book. I do know however that for the believer, we have a new dynamic thrown into the mix when we take into account Hebrews 9:27. "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." If we left it at "to die once" we'd be fine. Our actions really wouldn't matter. We could do whatever we wanted. What mixes things up is the phrase "and after that to face judgment." When you realize that you are held accountable for your actions, it puts a new spin on things...
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