The Character Achilles in Homer's The Iliad

For Greeks, gaining honor while alive that is important, but holding of a proper burial after death is also considered essential to them and their beloveds. In the Iliad, Homer places the emphasis on the retrieval of the body and the burial for both Patroclus and Hector, demonstrating the Greek perception that respect and fame continue after death, and therefore certify the struggle in life to achieve honor. Patroclus is like a brother to Achilles as they grow up together. While Patroclus is alive, he respects Achilles’ decision to remain out of the battle. After he dies, Achilles lays down his individual pride, which has insulted by Agamemnon earlier and returns back to the battle. Achilles successfully kills Hector and exacts his revenge by mutilating the body. Patroclus’ honor is shown in his elaborate ceremonies that Achilles holds for his passing and extends to the mourning shown. (Homer, Iliad 19.325-360, 23.245-280) On the other side, Priam has gone through many difficulties to have his son’s corpse back from Achilles. Hector’s honor also can be seemed from the paramount funeral and the

The first line of the Iliad describes a human emotion that leads to doom and destruction in Homer's poetic tale of the Trojan War. Achilles' rage is a major catalyst in the action in the Iliad. It is his rage that makes him both withdraw from and, later, rejoin the war with a fury. Why is Achilles enraged? Is his rage ignited solely by his human adversaries or do the gods destine him to the experience? Achilles' rage has many facets. His rage is a personal choice and, at times, is created by the gods.

After savagely dragging Hector behind his chariot fails to bring him closure and satisfaction after the death of his ‘soul mate,’ Achilles realizes that an act of redemption is needed to free himself from the ‘clogging grey web that enfolds him’ and define himself as a man rather than a ‘ravening beast.’ However, it is also due to a shared understanding between the two men of ‘a father’s soft affections’ that Achilles is touched by Priam’s speech and makes the decision to return the body of Priam’s son.

These key concepts of loss and grief are explored throughout Homer’s book XXIV of the Iliad. Homer uses Priam’s journey to retrieve Hector’s body as a depiction of the journey to the underworld, hinting at Troy’s destined fall. The symbolic notions of “the ford”, “the great tomb” and “sudden darkness” refer to the entering of the underworld. The epithet “guide and giant-killer” reassures the audience of the god Hermes presence. “The guide and giant killer” implies the escort of Priam to the underworld, the underworld being Achilles camp. There is an implication of Priam leaving the underworld when he “he feeds and sleeps” regaining life and the ability to leave the camp. Having completed his quest and achieved the most important trial of all, the sacred rituals of ensuring Hector’s soul could fulfil its

With the loss of his fellow comrades and Agamemnon, you really see no emotion or thought. Achilles really doesn't let anything hold him back. He puts his own loved ones on hold and lets his fury take him on his expedition. His constant dependence on rage allows us to see the many different stages he takes himself throughout life. With rage comes fire, which

Achilles knew that the Achaians could not win the war without him. His alienation was the catalyst for the destruction awaiting the Achaians. He was aware of this, but, because of his pride, he did nothing to stop it. When Priam visited Achilles to redeem the body of his son Hektor, Achilles showed a more humane side of himself. “So [Priam] spoke, and stirred in [Achilles] a passion of grieving for his own father” (488; bk.24, ln.507). Priam appealed to Achilles’ human emotions by speaking of his father; he provoked sympathy in Achilles. Achilles had integrated himself with humanity once more and had begun to see life from a mortal point of

In The Iliad, Achilles is first seen as a murderously doomed and raged person. Throughout the epic his anger surges to its meridian, and finally, the end of The Iliad, Achilles’ rage at this time is at its minimum point. Achilles goes through hardship in the death of a close friend and he faces battle decision difficulties but he soon learns how to swap his anger on one topic to a different, more crucial topic. Achilles’ anger shows his maturity throughout the novel and his change in reactions.

Once Achilles decides to go after Hector to seek revenge for his fallen comrades death, he seals his fate of living a short life full of glory, rather than going back home to live a quiet, uneventful life in peace. This shows a dramatic reversal in Achilles character as his desire to defend his loved ones overcomes his pride from defying Agamemnon. In honor of Patroclus, Achilles comes out from the Achaean ships and

In Homer's "Iliad", Achilles is a formidable Greek warrior whose rage proves to be the flaw that turns the gods' favor against him and eventually leads to his downfall. Other literary characters, namely King Lear in Shakespeare's play, have stated that they have been sinned against more than they have sinned. Achilles would be justified in claiming this for himself as well. The Trojan War, a conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans, began as a result of Paris's judgment and his taking of Helen, a Greek.

However, Achilles has an undeniably tough problem controlling his internal rage, especially towards Achaean King Agamemnon. Achilles and Agamemnon are involved in a battle of power. On one side, Achilles

His argument with Agamemnon may be a testament to it. Achilles shows that his principles rank over the need for glory on the field. The main purpose at that he compromises his principles is once he permits Patroklos and his men to travel off and fight and refuses to travel himself. At that time within the story, he's golf shot foolish pride before his loyalty and love for his friend. this can be the tragedy of human flaws that goes together with anger. He chooses a fate of death over dishonor, really a hero’s call. Then once he avenges his fallen companion and therefore the blood lust has left his system, he shows his growth and new understanding of loss with Agamemnon . it's not an all-new Achilles, however instead constant Achilles is being so prideful he may have grown wiser as a result of the teachings that solely death will

Homer illustrates that it is a difficult task to travel down the road of compassion and to overcome rage, but in The Iliad, Achilles achieved it. The ?swift runner? expresses his fury throughout the epic poem. The initial insensitivity and stubborn temper of Achilles in the first books lead to the eventual humanization of Achilles.

A noble king of the grand city of Troy his heart is distraught and he picks up the fecal matter for his son. Priam is interrupted by Zeus’s crier who “standing alongside Priam. / [speaking] in a soft voice, . . . / “Courage, Dardan Priam, take heart, … / Zeus commands you to ransom royal Hector,” (24: 202-209). Priam without a second thought got the wagon ready filled to the brim with gifts for Achilles. Priam put aside his personal status as king and raced to follow the gods and bravely meet with Achilles. When Priam met with Achilles there was a point in their interaction where Homer writes that “[t]he old man was terrified. He obeyed the order.” (24: 670) Many people take that to argue that he is not brave because he is afraid, but I believe that this verse helps continue to portray the bravery that King Priam had that even though he was terrified he did not become rash and harsh but instead found wisdom in guiding the conversation to a place that would bring these two men together. That takes bravery to come face to face with the extraordinary Achilles.

After many back and forth battles between god and goddess and Trojan and Achaean, the Achaeans are pushed back to their ships. Achilles’ best friend, Patroclus, begs Achilles to let him fight in his stead; which Patroclus does, and he succeeds in pushing the Trojan’s back to Troy, but the best of the Trojans Hector kills him. Grieving after the death of his friend, Achilles fights again for the Achaeans and kills Hector. Since he’s so angry for the death of his friend, he disgraces Hector’s body by dragging it around Patroclus’s barrow, but the gods don’t allow Hector’s corpse to rot. Then, Achilles holds funeral games for Patroclus, and Priam king of Troy brings a ransom for Hector’s body. Achilles agrees, Priam takes Hector’s body, and the

Akhilles, usually with hard heart, opens up for the first time after grieving for his lost comrade. “Remember your own father, / Akhilles, in your godlike youth: his years/ like mine are many, and he stands upon/ the fearful doorstep of old age. He too/ is hard pressed, it may be by those around him there being no one able to defend him/ from bane of war and ruin.” (Homer) Achilles’ reply rivets the attention of the audience on the cathartic and unifying grief of the two men, “Ah, sad and old! / Trouble and pain you’ve borne, and bear, aplenty. / Only a great will could have brought you here/ among Akhaian ships, and here alone/ beforer the eyes of one who stripped your sons.” (Homer). Priam’s speech, focuses on the ideas of memory, grief, and filial relationships which Priam has succeeded in evoking in his previously implacable enemy. This speech acts as a purification of Akhileus’ and Priam’s heart. In conclusion, I agree with Redfield's argument of the purification desired by the gods through their intervention or nonintervention of the situation. The essential element of purification being Priam pleading to Akhilles for his son’s body. The will of Priam to journey into the dangerous Akhaian ships reflects his will, and Akhilles’ response, although against his disposition, reflects his forgiving nature, a characteristic that was previously unknown. However, It could be argued that Akhilles granted Priam’s wish out of pity, and in accordance with the will of the gods and not forgiveness. Due to his grandeur nature, he could simply view Priam as a part of the gods game. Even so, Akhilles experienced a catharsis after encountering Priam. He witnessed the resolve of Priam, and the love he shared for his son, similar to his love for his father and