What Are The Consequences Of Disobeying Achilles

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

All this if Achilles would but leave his anger and come again to his place among [the Greeks] in the battle-mass” (47). But Achilles would not accept surrender; Achilles bound himself yet again with invisible chains saying, “…I will not fight until great Hector sweeps the Trojan charge right to the prows of my own black galleys. Then, and only then, I will give him work for his spears”

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 irrationality alone could have been enough to punish the Persians, but they made a major religious blunder against the Greeks. Xerxes, in his attempt to get his armies to Greece, made the smart military decision of making a bridge of boats across the river to get his troops across. This was actually a relatively common thing in the ancient times (Schironi, Oct 15). However, the Greek viewed their rivers as gods, and this “yoking” of the river was Xerxes disrespecting the river deity. The river god retaliated by tricking Xerxes and the fleet and eventually destroying the entire army (Persians. 353-514).

There is a gathering with the people of Troy and the people of Greece that hold a toast to being allies with no intention of war of any sort. But when Paris expresses his love for Helen, the wife of Menelaus, she sails off with the Trojan army is secret. Hector is oblivious to wrongdoing of his brother Paris. He knows that with that incident, the Greek army will go into battle with the mighty Troy. Before the Trojans can return Helen to Menelaus, Greece has already set their mind on war. That being said, this will be the greatest war ever fought. The Trojan war.

Nestor attempts to influence Patroclus by telling him about his past, hoping that as a result, Patroclus will return to being the soldier and leader that he is inside. Nestor first talks to Patroclus about Achilles himself, but smoothly transitions into his time as a soldier. Nestor tells this story in an attempt to show Patroclus his capabilities by mentioning what other people said to him when he was younger. Nestor intends to help him realize that he should “Let the whole Myrmidon army follow your command - \ you might bring some light of victory to our Argives!” (11.952). From the way Nestor talks about Achilles, it’s implied that he thinks of him as someone who is strong and energetic, using adjectives like “fiery” to describe him, but he uses this to support his case.

The story is about Achilles and Patroclus meeting, becoming friends, and eventually lovers. This all occurs as Achilles trained to become a great warrior by his sea goddess mother. After the war begins in Troy, Patroclus dies in combat and Achilles avenges him.

Achilles starts fighting for revenge, while Hector fights to defend Trojan. After Patroclus was killed by Hector, Antilochus told Achilles. “A black cloud of sorrow came upon Achilles as he heard”, and tells his mother that Hector must die from his spear, he “must pay for Patroclus’ death”(149-151). Achilles loses all his humanity and has no mercy after his friend had been killed; however Hector holds on to his humanity while fighting. Achilles began killing Trojans mercilessly until he got what he wanted, because the vengeance for his friend mattered more than his humanity. Achilles also did not feel remorse when he slaughtered Hector in front of his entire

“…Apollo knocked the helmet off his head and under his horse’s hooves it tumbled… / Disaster seized him—his fine legs buckling—he stood there, senseless… / Hector… came rushing into him right across the lines and rammed his spearshaft home, stabbing deep in the bowels…” (Homer, 438-439) Patroclus’ death is devastating to the Achaean armies’ morale and, more central to the story, it further disrupts Achilles’ already unbalanced sophrosyne. The torment that Achilles endures here epitomizes the human condition.

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

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

Meanwhile, Hector was often pictured as a strong, valiant man who also had a gentler side, unlike Achilles. Even when facing attacking armies, Hector fought to protect his family from the invading forces and for the survival of his city. It should be noted that before Hector faced the tragedies of the upcoming Trojan War, he blessed his only son and asked Zeus, the god of all gods, to grant his son to be like him, the “first in glory among the Trojans” (340). Though Hector was a better man in a moral sense when compared to Achilles, he still had some flaws. While attempting to eliminate Achilles, Hector mistakenly killed one of Achilles’ closest men, Patroclus, who happened to be wearing Achilles’ armor. After Patroclus’ death, Hector, under the belief that he had defeated the great Achilles, removed the armor from the corpse and wore it, which defiled the warrior’s respect and honor. Also, in “Book 22” of the Iliad, Hector tainted his honor during the arrival of Achilles by leaving “the gates [of Troy] behind and [fleeing] in fear” (347). Even though he fled Achilles, Hector knew that in order to save his people, he must face the great runner, and he did so for Troy. Unfortunately for Hector, he was facing certain death. When Hector took his final stand, Achilles, with Athena’s assistance, dealt the final blow that killed the great Hector. Due to the infinite outrage of the death of Patroclus’ death still dwelling inside of him, Achilles refused to return

Achilles’ insolent pride backfires on him when he becomes ultimately responsible for the death of his best friend Patroclus. Although Achilles still refuses to fight, he allows Patroclus to where his armor into battle. The sight of what the Trojans think is Achilles terrorizes them at first, but Apollo pushes him down and knocks off Patroclus’ armor. Hector sees the injured imposter on the ground and delivers a fatal wound. Only now, out of personal grief, does Achilles return to the battle.

The Trojans are taken back when they see the reappearance of “Achilles” and retreat from the battleground, trapping and exposing themselves. “Each Trojan soldier glancing left and right – how could he run from sudden, plunging death?” (Iliad Book 16 Lines 332-333). This allows Patroclus to continue forward to the walls of Troy and slaying every Trojan he encounters along the way. He and his men appeared to be able to seize Troy at that very moment, had it not been for Apollo’s intervention. Apollo prevented Patroclus from progressing any further and urged Hector to drive forward. Together, Hector and Apollo kill Patroclus.

Eventually, Achilles refused to fight in the Trojan War because of Agamemnon’s dishonor. He asked his mother to help him punish the Greek; he wanted to see the army to suffer; and he wanted the Greek to be killed. All of those happened just to protect his excessive pride. He was only concerned about his honor, but the Greek or the lives of others (Homer 240). His selfishness and egotism was illustrate best when the Greeks asked him to return to the army. After being defeated by the Trojan, King Agamemnon had to ask Achilles to go back and fight for the sake of the army. Achilles decided to reject the offer, and abandoned the need of the Greek. He reasoned how his pride was not honored; how many of the battles that he has won; and how good he