" Rage--Goddess, sing the range of Peleus' son Achilles,

murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,

hurling down to the house of death so many sturdy souls,

great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion,

feast for the dogs and birds,

and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end..." (Iliad, 77)

Fate plays an extensive role in the character's lives of Homer's epic, The Iliad. Homer not only shares the destiny of his characters with his audience, but He shares it with the characters themselves through the prophecies made by the Greek gods. There are many possible reasons why Homer reveals the final moments in the first pages of his book. Homer's original audience would have already been familiarized with the story and so to have the characters balanced with the audience, Homer reveals the characters fates' to them. This act of balancing the knowledge of fate is what gives the characters their tragedy and their appeal as they push forward heroically to their pre-destined doom.

Knowing what the future holds will certainly affect one's present actions. It is only logical that the knowledge of one's fate will bring upon that individual a different perspective on life. Achilles made a pact with the gods that he would have a short and fulfilling life rather than a long and meaningless one. To Achilles, achievement and greatness was more important than the time he spent in this world. He went to troy knowing that it was going to be his death, but because He knew his fate, Achilles fought knowledgably and tragically towards it. Hector also knew he was doomed to tragedy. He knew he was destined to fight the great Achilles after he killed Patroclus in battle. And so, Hector walked through the gates of Troy one last time and fought his best against the almost immortal power of Achilles. It was no use however, despite his valiant