Troy Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now.

We will never be here again. Troy was the great city during the time of ancient Greece that stood proud against all of its invaders both on neighboring lands and even across seas because it is heavily protected by its mighty walls unsurpassed by enemies. Perhaps taken as a challenge by the fates of its daunting unconquerable status, the circumstances would conspire to bring about its unforgettable downfall. Based on the highly acclaimed story of Homer, The Illiad, Troy was set after the initial events that led the young Paris to the presence of the lovely and beautiful Helen which eventually fell in love. A love which caused the great Trojan War that took the life of countless heroes. The film Troy, although devoid of the involvement of the gods, still depicts the designs of fate and destiny that entwines the lives of men. Fate is illustrated as the unforeseen force which roots from the choices we make. Paris, knowing the risk and consequences of taking Helen with him to Troy, still decided to abduct her in spite of the knowledge of the circumstances surrounding their troubled affair. The story of Troy much like that of Iliad portrays fate and destiny as a supreme and ultimate force that is decided by each mans actions and decisions. The dominating theme that mans fate is the result of his actions echo all throughout the movie. A mans fate lies in the consequences of his actions and decisions. A man indirectly controls his destiny by his actions and decisions. One action or decision has a consequence that leads to another action or decision. A man is born with a web of many predetermined fates and one or more destinies. A mans decisions control which course of fate he takes so that he indirectly controls his destiny. Since all mortals die, destiny is what you have done with the fates you have been dealt, and where you have taken your life. Eventually, a mans whole life may be traced to his very first action or decision. By stating someones fate as determined by their actions or decisions, fate is unbreakable, what has been done will control the present, and ultimately the future. The present is controlled by the past so that no one may escape their past decisions or actions. The underlying concept of fate is that all men are not born equal, so that fate is the limitations or abilities placed upon him. The concept that all mortals share the same destiny, that is that everyone dies, introduces the values of honor and courage, and other principles of what is right and what is wrong. Courage is demonstrated unselfishness and the desire to do what is right no matter what the cost. Since all men die a man who is willing to sacrifice himself for what he believes is right shows supreme faith and moral character as well as the admirable trait of putting something else above their own life. Bravery or courage isnt necessarily aggressiveness or rage; for instance, all of Achilles actions are referred to in the beginning as "the rage of Achilles". Doing such things as challenging a god might be brave, but something that is brave isnt always honorable, while something that is honorable is always brave. The Iliad suggest that the bravest deeds are the ones in which one risks their own life for what is right and what they believe in. Two men

fighting on opposite sides may consider each other honorable because both are willing to sacrifice for their causes. All men fear death, so the must consciously decide to fight for what they believe in, that which they consider supreme above all, even their own life. The greatest men are judged by whether they have a cause that they consider supreme over their own life and worth dying for. If one does not have a cause worth dying for then one does not have a cause worth living for. The idea of valor and honor are ultimately a reflection of how life and death are interconnected as a part of human existence. Death is considered the passing of ones soul from ones body, the idea of honor comes involved because a man may lose all of his possessions in life, or death, but no one may take his honorable accomplishments from him. Others closely connect honor and death because all men die but a man who has gained honor may live through the remembrance of his brave actions. A form of immortality ultimately rewards those who do honorable things that rival the gods. The gods are given immortality while mortals must gain it by vicariously living through the memories of others that know of or recall their honorable actions.