Bryn Mawr College

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Fight or flight? : manifestations of moral injury in Homer’s Iliad
(2021-05) Galumbeck, Alix
While Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder arises as a well described consequence of war, moral injury presents as a more nuanced manifestation of psychological damage. Coined by Jonathan Shay, moral injury examines the reaction of an individual to guilt, shame, and anger experienced during combat and how those emotions affect an individual’s duty of care and duty of loyalty. Applying the modern framework of moral injury, the motifs of τιμή (‘honor’) and κλέος (‘glory’) in Homer’s Iliad are analyzed to determine their impact on the development of epic heroes. Through their actions, diction, and interaction with others, the characters of Achilles and Hector will be evaluated to assess the influence of τιμή and κλέος on the moral injury that befalls these heroes. A detailed construct will show the evolution of these combatants’ journeys from the causation of the initial insult, through psychological injury, consequences of these injuries, attempts to reconcile their demons, and ultimate recovery.