By demonstrating that humans and gods are not that different from each other, Homer is exposing the human condition and demonstrating that what truly differentiates humans are the choices they make . The implication for modern readers is that Homer was on the cusp of a social shift, from a focus on shame and honor to a focus on right and wrong. Showing what happens when gods mistreat others, fall into temptation, and try to manipulate fate, the Iliad asks readers to move beyond the human condition and choose what is right over what is selfish, to be like Zeus when she allows her son to die instead of like Hera when she seduces Zeus. Through these examples the reader can see that the human condition, although common to all, is only the basic level, and humans can excel beyond