Is Achilles right when, in the Iliad XVIII and subsequently, he

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 Greeks placed great importance on personal honor. Why is this? Is it because to them man I nothing without honor. Or is it that the honor is more important than the man? "Honor to the Greeks is something that is won by a man's prowess, his ability to fight and be victorious on the battle field"(Schein 62). This is just one example of how honor is obtained. A second method of gaining honor is to be a great orator, one must posses the ability to speak in the assembly and express his ideas eloquently, and persuasively to the gathered body. A third way of achieving personal honor is to demonstrate athletic ability.

The Ancient Greeks admired their heroes and tried to learn from both their achievements and their mistakes. They believed that most great leaders and warriors followed a predictable behavior cycle, which often ended tragically. In Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, Achilles is a great warrior who traces the stages of the behavior cycle twice, from arete to hubris to ate and then to nemesis. Achilles is a highly skilled warrior and a great leader who becomes a narcissist and an arrogant person, which leads to selfish and childish behavior resulting in the death of his best friend. Following Patroclus’ death, Achilles repeats the behavior cycle by regaining his courage and motivation, and goes back to battle against Hector. The pride he feels in

was revealed to her that it was Zeus who had visited her in this shape we are

In book nine of the Iliad, Homer portrays Achilles refusal to Agamemnon as the circumstance of the Greek world’s structure being out of order. A world of system, where many warriors risk their lives in seek of honor. “Swift runner” (9.638) Achilles is conscious and aware that the Greek realm is stagnant and heading to its own doom. Achilles fights hard in battles in the name of “mighty king” (9.368) Agamemnon and in returns gets nothing. In addition, he also deeply feels the nihilism of the Greek culture and its order. Bernard Knox writes, “a pattern fixed from the beginning and not subject to change or on the other hand, the complete freedom and meaningless anarchy of an unpredictable universe” (Knox 40). Knox relates how uncertain universes

Dr. Frost’s comments: With his clear explanation, illustrative quotes, and logical organization, the student easily proves his thesis, recapped and affirmed very well in the final paragraph.

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.

From the discussion about book nine of the Iliad, the reasoning behind Achilles’ actions was discussed and the theme of freedom vs. fate was discovered. Book nine is considered to be the climax of the Iliad because it is a turning point in the war and the Greeks realize that they need Achilles. Agamemnon offers a multitude of gifts and gives a rather lame apology in the hopes of Achilles returning, however Achilles refuses the gifts. The Greeks all questioned Achilles’ mindset for they did not understand why he would refuse the gifts and glory offered to him. Considering how in these times, the Greeks associate honor with material objects, Achilles has just denied himself an opportunity to receive honor and a legacy. He became an outsider among

A character’s conflicting motivation make him/her complex because in the Iliad by Homer, Achilles motivations change throughout the story making his personality change. At the beginning, Achilles is prideful when he goes to war. In the story, Achilles mother tells him that “If you go to war, glory will be yours”. This quotes shows that he is prideful because he only goes to war to be famous and for glory. Achilles is then honorable because he captures a slave name Briseis, instead of taking advantage of her, he tries to protect her. Another quote from the book states “Achilles immense pride is revealed as he stubbornly refuse to accept gift”. This quote states that Achilles is stubborn because he doesn’t accept the apology from Agamemnon. In

In Homer's 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

The Iliad, a series of epic poems originated from Homer and rewritten by Robert Lattimore, chronicles three main characters: Achilles, Hector, and Agamemnon. All three of these courageous men share common traits which variate with their roles in the war effort. Of the three, two are clearly heroes whilst one can almost be considered a villain. Therefore, as seen through quotes from the Iliad the real hero becomes quickly identified.

In the book The Iliad, by Homer, the main character, Achilles, is a Greek warrior who is part divine and part human. During the story, Achilles undergoes the steps in becoming a hero. Each of these steps prepares him for the final moment, when he becomes a hero. Achilles is a hero because he goes through many of the steps necessary in the path to becoming a hero.

In the battle between Hector and Achilles, there was more on the line than winning the war. Until the end of the poem, it can be argued that both Achilles and Hector fit the role of an epic hero, but there can only be one. The battle represented who would ultimately be determined the epic hero. In Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, Achilles is crafted into an epic hero throughout the poem by the illustration of the qualities of an epic hero: a great warrior, help from the supernatural, an epic flaw, and an epic journey.

Names and relationships can be a very powerful tool in any medium, they can represent values or teach us priceless lessons. But the names and moreover relationship that I will be focusing on today are that of Achilles of Greece and King Priam of Troy, and their relationship through a film medium, in the adaptation of Troy directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

“Until now we used to say that the Greeks fight like Heros. Now we say: The Heroes fight like Greeks” (Winston Churchill). Western Civilization have been focused and built on the Greeks, especially their hero’s. The two main heroes of the Greeks were Achilles and Odysseus, from the two great Epic poems. Although, the heroes Odysseus and Achilles from Homer’s epics the Iliad and Odyssey display several differences and similarities.