Achilles And Agamemnon In The Iliad

    Most people think of a hero as a strong, superior, good-looking person that could never make a mistake. However, in a story called The Odyssey, a connection to real life reveals imperfections to be common in heroes. Each person has their low points and highlights, regardless of their “rank”. The author and epic poet, Homer, exemplifies our main character, Odysseus, to take on this idea of a hero throughout his writing. The time period took place in Ancient Greece, allowing Greek culture to relate to the poem. Different aspects of such culture and history may have influenced the works and creativity of Homer as well. A major point includes The Trojan War because it focuses in on Odysseus’ journey to bring Helen back home by devising a plan to destroy warriors in the city. Acknowledge this factor when reading The Odyssey, for not only evidence of heroism, but also other major points of archetypes, in which the device reflects the insights of readers in modern time and what is seen from Ancient Greek culture.

The Book 11 of The Odyssey serves as representing a foil to Achilles through Agamemnon and Achilles’ stories and showing us a different perspective about heroic death with fame and glory(kleos). Homer uses Agamemnon, Achilles, and Heracles as characters for a comparison between their ended lives in Hades and Odysseus’ undead life. The story of Achilles’ failure to return to home and Agamemnon’s tragic death from her faithless wife acts as a foil to Odysseus and her faithful wife in the Book 11. Also, the comparison between Heracles and Achilles in terms of their similar but different reasons of suffering gives another foil to Odysseus.

The epic The Iliad by Homer argues that Achilles reaction in many situations is rage. Achilles choice to respond in such a way is very significant. It shows that this emotion is very influential in his day-to-day life. However, there has been much discussion as to whether Achilles’s rage is a virtue or a vice. Other characters throughout The Iliad have commented on his rage, such as Athena, who says, “I came to see if I could check this temper of yours,” (Homer, 235) in a discussion she has with Achilles about his quarrel with Agamemnon. Athena’s comment suggests that it takes a lot of effort to put Achilles’s rage into check. Achilles seemingly uncontrollable rages creates a man throughout The Iliad who “like[s] fighting and war” (234). Most men in this epic longed to end the war; Achilles on the other hand yearned for more battle. Achilles drive for battle makes it evident that his rage and the manifestation of it in other characters as seen throughout The Iliad is not a virtue, but a vice.

A classic example of this divine involvement occurs within the first page of The Iliad.  Achilles, the great hero of the Achaean armies, and Agamemnon the commander-in-chief of the Argives clash bitterly, and the entire epic centers on this conflict.  Homer details the cause of this

Achilles questions himself, "Should he draw the long sharp sword slung at his hip, thrust through the ranks and kill Agamemnon now?--or check his rage and beat his fury down?" (108). Here, Hera has Athena intervene to keep Achilles from killing Agamemnon, which shows how the gods control Achilles' destiny. The argument between Achilles and Agamemnon clearly shows that the two men have different opinions about the power of the gods, what is holy or unholy, and what is proper treatment of other men. These differences are one source of Achilles' rage.

The Odyssey by Homer is a literary classic that presents many themes about the natures of both man and god. Although the characters of the book display characteristics relatable to those of the people today, one of the most prevalent differences between the two eras and their people is the intense violence that takes place throughout the entirety of the epic. This violence serves several functions in the work as a whole. The violence that is enacted upon the characters of The Odyssey serve as a device to convey the Greek cultural value of reverence of the gods and as a method for the author to create nuances to his characters.

Commonfolk, kings, and everyone in between had quite a bit to fear in the era of the ancient Greeks and the Trojan War. Disease, pillaging, and hunger, just to name a few inescapably plagued most everyone, and with reassurance lacking without any sure defense against these evils, the populace had every reason for panic. Living on an Earth without the modern advancements we have today as protection from the various hazards of the past, an incomprehensible challenge for us, was every day for the citizens of the time, yet they still managed to hold onto hope. How? They had the Olympian gods to turn to for advice and security.

This is best seen when Athena prevents Achilles from killing Agamemnon despite the fact that Achilles has been dishonoured and therefore should retaliate, saying “Down from the skies I come to check your rage” (84). Here Athena, as the goddess of wisdom, is a metaphor for Achilles’ own voice of reason and moral compass, showing him that it would be unwise to kill a leader on his own side. Achilles is able to see reason through her and chooses a less violence act of retaliation by avoiding battle altogether. Just as the will of the gods is used to justify violence, it is also a force of moral and rational

In the modern world, people, as a society, have always given themselves a goal or goals that they would like to attain at some point during their lifetime. Many people seek to attain riches, love, happiness or high stature within society. When we people set that goal, we tend to mold our lifestyles around it. As people work throughout their lives to achieve this ultimate goal, it becomes apparent to others what it is we are working so hard for. Just as this pattern is evident in modern society, it can also be seen in the times of Homer, particularly in the great Greek epic, the Iliad. This distinct pattern can be seen in Achilles, one of the most vital characters in the story. Achilles, being the ultimate most powerful warrior of all

The belief in polytheism not only linked gods, humans, and animals but also justified people’s contradicting prayers to the gods, and the differing outcomes of these prayers. Naturally different characters had different needs, therefore each person’s prayers to the gods differed, but there could be only one outcome. Homers people in an attempt to understand these contradicting outcomes invented the idea that for each different desire there was a different god, and when two contradicting prayers where made, two different gods decided the outcome. In The Odyssey, this idea of contradicting

In the Iliad there are many characters that could be considered heroic. But the two main characters that stand out as heroes to me are swift-footed Achilles and flashing-helmet Hector. Numerous times throughout the epic they display qualities and traits that are unsurpassed by anyone on their side. Many times throughout the epic Achilles and Hector are tested for their strength, and will to win in battle, which for both warriors always ends up positive because they always win their battles. Although both fighters are among the elite status in the armies, they each show human and god-like qualities that help them be as a fierce and feared as possible.

Throughout the Odyssey, the presence of divine intervention overwhelmingly shapes the story as a whole. The relationship between humans and gods within the book can be characterized as one that provides humans options, commonly in the form of an omen and according to their choices, will result in a set punishment or appraisal. From an individual’s choices in life and the aforementioned trials, a god or goddess will positively or negatively impact the person’s life. This divine intervention drives people to practice holy acts out of self-interest and fear which reveals that all humans at their base are not altruistic but, selfish and only care for events that will promote their lives. Their faith in or fear of the gods also provide insight on humans’ tendencies to divert blame, and be scared of the unknown. Throughout the Odyssey each and every character serves as a median to demonstrate how the gods intervene in humans’ lives that they either favor or despise and according to their subjective views on these people, they will construct their fate.

After being dishonored by Agamemnon, Achilles alienated himself from his countrymen physically and ideologically. This decision caused the Greeks much pain and suffering. In the light provided by Patroclus’ death, Achilles reconciles himself with his community by recognizing Antilochus’ honor with a prize. Achilles is confronted with a situation that is similar to his own dishonoring by Agamemnon at the end of the chariot race. Achilles, occupying the position of power, threatens to take the prize that Antilochus earned. Just as Achilles did, Antilochus ferociously objected, insisting that he keep his mare until someone rightfully takes it. Antilocus’ reaction implies that his anger is not due to simply having something taken away. Instead,

What stood out for me in the reading was the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles. Specifically, Achilles' response to Agamemnon's jests, which made me wonder how they were able to make it nine years without any previous incidents like this. I understand that honor is important to Greeks, especially to kings, but all it took was one threat by Agamemnon to take Briseis for Achilles to seriously consider killing him then and there. This scene does show us the importance that Agamemnon, Achilles, and Greeks in general placed on their image and honor and prestige. We see that Agamemnon felt that as king he needed to have honor and could not be left without while others had something he did not. Also we are shown the temper of Achilles,

The entire epic of the Iliad focuses on Achilles’ rage against Agamemnon. By the beginning of Book IX, the Achaeans are sensing defeat, almost about to step out of the war effort. Agamemnon and the Achaeans go to bring Achilles back by offering him treasures. However, even these treasures are unable to persuade Achilles to join back to the army as he wants something much greater than these gifts- the honor that has been stripped away from him by Agamemnon. By the end of the book, Homer foreshadows that even though Achilles’ rage is overpowering his judgment, Achilles will fight because it is something inherent to Achilles. Book IX exposes the pressures that Achilles faced in Pythia and highlights the predicament that he stands with, illuminating his inner struggles between pertaining his honor and choosing the right fate.