Aphrodite and Helen
Helen's third appearance in the Iliad is with Aphrodite, whom Helen takes to task. Aphrodite is in disguise, as Iris had been, but Helen sees straight through it. Aphrodite, representing blind lust, appears before Helen to summon her to Paris' bed at the conclusion of the duel between Menelaus and Paris, which had ended with the survival of both men. Helen is aggravated with Aphrodite and her approach to life. Helen insinuates that Aphrodite would really like Paris for herself. Helen then makes a peculiar comment, that going to Paris' bedchamber will arouse snide comments among the women of the city. This is odd because Helen has been living as Paris' wife for nine years. Roisman says this shows that Helen is now longing for social acceptance among the Trojans.
"Goddess, why do you wish to deceive me so?
Are you going to take me still further off, [400]
to some well populated city somewhere
in Phrygia or beautiful Maeonia,
because you're in love with some mortal man
and Menelaus has just beaten Paris
and wants to take me, a despised woman, 450
back home with him? Is that why you're here,
you and your devious trickery?
Why don't you go with Paris by yourself,
stop walking around here like a goddess,
stop directing your feet toward Olympus,
and lead a miserable life with him,
caring for him, until he makes you his wife [410]
or slave. I won't go to him in there —
that would be shameful, serving him in bed.
Every Trojan woman would revile me afterwards. 460
Besides, my heart is hurt enough already." (Book III)
Helen has no real choice in whether or not to go to Paris' room. She will go, but since she is concerned with what the others think, she covers herself up so as not to be recognized as she goes to Paris' bedchamber.
Helen and Paris
The fourth appearance of Helen is with Paris, to whom she is hostile and insulting. If ever she wanted to be with Paris, maturity and the effects of the war have tempered her passion. Paris does not appear to care very much that Helen insults him. Helen is his possession.
"You've come back from the fight. How I wish 480
you'd died there, killed by that strong warrior
who was my husband once. You used to boast
you were stronger than warlike Menelaus, [430]
more strength in your hands, more power in your spear.
So go now, challenge war-loving Menelaus
to fight again in single combat.
I'd suggest you stay away. Don't fight it out
man to man with red-haired Menelaus,
without further thought. You might well die,
come to a quick end on his spear." 490
Replying to Helen, Paris said:
"Wife,
don't mock my courage with your insults.
Yes, Menelaus has just defeated me,
but with Athena's help. Next time I'll beat him. [440]
For we have gods on our side, too. But come,
let's enjoy our love together on the bed.
Never has desire so filled my mind as now,
not even when I first took you away
from lovely Lacedaemon, sailing off
in our sea-worthy ships, or when I lay with you 500
in our lover's bed on the isle of Cranae.
That's how sweet passion has seized hold of me,
how much I want you now."
(Book III)
Helen and Hector
The fifth appearance of Helen is in Book IV. Helen and Hector talk in Paris' house, where Helen manages the household just like the other Trojan women. In her encounter with Hector, Helen is self-deprecating, calling herself "a dog, evil-contriving and abhorred." She says she wishes she had a better husband, implying she wishes she had a husband more like Hector. It sounds as though Helen may be flirting, but in the previous two encounters Helen has shown that lust no longer motivates her, and the praise makes sense without such an insinuation of coquettishness.
"Hector, you are my brother,
and I'm a horrible, conniving bitch.
I wish that on that day my mother bore me
some evil wind had come, carried me away,
and swept me off, up into the mountains,
or into waves of the tumbling, crashing sea, 430
then I would have died before this happened.
But since gods have ordained these evil things,
I wish I'd been wife to a better man, [350]
someone sensitive to others' insults,
with feeling for his many shameful acts.
This husband of mine has no sense now,
and he won't acquire any in the future.
I expect he'll get from that what he deserves.
But come in, sit on this chair, my brother,
since this trouble really weighs upon your mind— 440
all because I was a bitch—because of that
and Paris' folly, Zeus gives us an evil fate,
so we may be subjects for men's songs
in generations yet to come." (Book VI)
First Appearance of Helen | Second | 3d, 4th, and 5th | Final Appearance
