The Iliad Understanding Achilles Essay - 801 Words

In Homers The Iliad, we find the greatest, bravest, and most revered warrior of ancient times. Achilles was the son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidones in Phtia, and Thetis, a sea-nymph. As the legend goes, Achilles got his strength and battle skills when his mother dipped him in the river Styx. Achilles was thereby made invincible. However, Thetis forgot to wet the heel by which she held him and because of this grievous error, Thetis destined her son to defeat. It was prophesied that he would be defeated in battle by being pierced in his only vulnerable spot: Achilles heel (thus the expression). This single weakness would inevitably be Achilles downfall, but in the end he would still be defined as a true hero. The prophecy that†¦show more content†¦Patroclus was, as of what we know, one of Achilles few friends, and his lack of companions gave him little reason to miss out on the war. His lack of close family also may have led him to pursue his true talents. His fathe r Peleus, king of the Myrmidones had already passed away, and his mothers constant protective nature may have only aided in pushing Achilles away. At his passing, the king of the Myrmidones had left Achilles with great wealth and a great legion of men to command, but possessions seemed to mean little to Achilles; his love was being on the battlefield. The ease with which he could dispatch his enemy seemed to give Achilles pleasure, not the wealth and power which came with ruling his small kingdom. His war-brides would have undoubtedly given him the pleasurable attention he needed, but unfortunately even this luxury was denied him. The circumstances surrounding Chryseis and Briseis (two war-brides captured in an attack on a town allied with Troy) led to the unsteady relationship between Achilles and Agamemnon. When Agamemnon took Achilles war-bride Briseis for himself, Achilles withdrew himself from battle. The result of Achilles withdrawal was that Patroclus went into battle posing as Achilles in order to bolster the spirit of the Achaean army. This unfortunately led the death of Patroclus. This only helped toShow MoreRelatedJustice and Love in the Iliad 959 Words   |  4 Pages Simone Weil argues that the way Homer presents war and the use of force in the Iliad, in all of its brutality, violence, and bitterness bathes the work in the light of love and justice (pg 25). The point Weil is making is that by depicting the suffering of all of these men regardless of their side, or strength Homer equalizes them in a â€Å"condition common to all men†(pg 25). Because Homer equalizes them the reader can feel empathy, or at least compassion for all of the men. However while Weil isRead More The Character Achilles in Homers The Iliad993 Words   |  4 PagesThe Character Achilles in Homers The Iliad The first book of The Iliad, appropriately titled the Rage of Achilles, sets the scene for the remainder of the epic (selu.edu/Academics/Depts/WritingCenter/The_Growth_of_Achilles.htm). This rage is invoked by pride, a theme of pivotal importance for the Greeks. Pride is the source of the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon in Book 1. The incident that provoked Achilles rage took place in the tenth and final year of the Achaean attack on TroyRead MoreHonor And Glory By Homer1574 Words   |  7 Pagestakes the lives of many men. Honor and Glory are what define the hero in the epic poem, The Iliad, written by Homer. Throughout the Iliad, honor and glory is the motivation behind the characters, there are different ways to obtain honor and glory, and the different views of honor throughout the epic poem. 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Pity states that one person is able to read, sympathize, feel, and understand another person well. We can see that Hector shows no pity in war, so he faces his death. Nevertheless, what if someone show pity to another personRead MoreRamayana and the Illiad1506 Words   |  7 PagesYogesh Tekwani Professor November 22, 2011 Second Writing Assignment Ramayana and the Iliad are two important literature pieces from Greece and India, both plays are set in time when Gods were known to make appearance on normal basis. The plays are main characters are Achilles and Ram, Achilles is a demi god and Ram is an incarnation of God Vishnu. In the Iliad, Achilles is an arrogant warrior who goes to war to claim glory and fame. In the Ramayana, Ram is a prince who is exiled to theRead MoreThe Iliad And The Odyssey1498 Words   |  6 PagesAn Influential Poem The Iliad is a poem that provides important stories with insight into early human society. It was an ancient story written centuries ago about two civilizations that battled against each other. â€Å"The Iliad tells the story of the clash of two great civilizations, and the effects of war on both the winners and losers† (Homer 222). In addition to its influence on Greek poetry, the Iliad is a great Homeric epic that has long helped shape critical schools of thought. It is not