Homer's epic poem, the Iliad, and John Locke's essay on political philosophy, Second Treatise of Government, are two types different works of literature with different goals, but they both strongly touch on themes of revenge and justice. The nature of revenge is agreed, but its role in each of the two works is different. Locke implies absolute justice while Homer implies both absolute justice and subjective justice perceived by different individuals, gods and cultures, but they both agree that governance is the cure for revenge. Homer and Locke also claim different exceptions when revenge is acceptable or at least understandable. The Iliad and the Second Treatise use the theme of revenge for two different purposes: the first to drive the plot and inspire reflection on human nature, the second to make a philosophical argument. Regardless, they each express a common belief about the nature of revenge. Homer affirms through characters (Agamemnon in particular) that desires such as revenge are natural and inevitable. John Locke states this directly in his Second Treatise, calling it a "state of nature" (2TG), the state in which man's world would be without government. They both say the same thing in two different ways. “What could I do? it is God who accomplishes everything. The eldest daughter of Zeus is Ate who blinds everyone, a power of scourge: her feet are delicate, for she does not walk on the earth, but walks on the heads of men, causing them to fall; and confuses this one or that. - Agamemnon, in the Iliad. Both the Iliad and the Second Treatise teach a lesson about revenge: it causes problems when left unchecked. The Iliad tells the story of a hero, Achilles, who tragically causes death and/or...... middle of paper ...... we defined earlier, for his actions against them, in the aim of defending oneself against further abuse. It specifies that the mistreatment must be serious and directed against the people, and that an individual's revenge is not justified against the king for the misdeeds the king commits against him. This is supported by his statement that everyone has the right to self-defense, and contrasted by the fact that Achilles seeks revenge on his leader for insulting him (which is proven by Homer to be an unjust decision and tragic). Homer makes the gods the exception; they can do what they want and however they want. He also sometimes makes his vengeful attitude unclear at certain points in the Iliad with the way he glorifies the violence of war and Achilles' enraged slaughter of thousands, but of course, glorifying war and warriors is part of culture..