They allow the listener to become more sympathetic towards the heroes. Seeing men interact with women brings out their gentler side and the audience is able to relate to the intimate humanity that only a woman can evoke. Thetis clutching Achilles' head and weeping over him as he spiritually dies is a much more powerful image than if the bard used a simile to liken the experience to a wounded dove in the air and giving its last look at the world as he rushed to his death. When you see a powerful emotion emitted from a character due to their adoration towards another character, you begin to pity their love. Homer exploits this phenomenon to leave a lasting impression on the