Let me ask you, who was it that proposed the deal for Helen’s marriage? The one that said all the Greek kings planning to marry her must protect the marriage?

Odysseus of Ithaka

Now, he didn’t do this for no reason, nonononno. He did this to impress Helen’s father, who was the brother of Icarius. Who is Icarius? Why, Penelope’s father, who did not want her married. Odysseus wanted so does to marry her that he made Helen’s father convince his brother to let Penelope marry him!

But do I blame Penelope? OF COURSE NOT! She is hardly the root of this problem. But do you know Penelope’s backstory?

It is said that Icarius was so upset at her birth, he tossed her into the sea. He had not wanted a girl, not at all. Just then though, a flock of ducks saw the baby and carried her to safety. Icarius saw the ducks and realized his mistake, Penelope becoming his beloved daughter.

Now aside from Icarius being the original girl dad, there’s a word in there I think you noticed. Ducks. Ducks, which saved baby Penelope. Penelope. If they had not saved Penelope, there would be no Penelope, which meant no lovestruck Odysseus, which meant no deal, which meant

NO

TROJAN

WAR!