What Role Does Achilles Play In The Iliad

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

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

In the Iliad, Homer sees Achilles as a better man than those around him, even though his pride and anger cause a great deal of damage. Achilles puts up with Agamemnon who does not have the same level of skill or integrity. Therefore, the story of Achilles is a story of someone who is working within a society where his integrity and belief systems are above those of the King. At the same time, Achilles also represents the weakness of anger because of the death of Patroclus and the way in which he then goes and kills Hector. However, Holway writes that in the Iliad Homer was depicting honor culture in which having the most strength was considered to be the greatest achievement and virtue. Holway describes Achilles in that he “embodies the dominant paradigm”, suggesting that it is in his skill and strength that righteousness is found.

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

Many people have heard of Achilles, whether in Greek Mythology or when referring to the tendon in their foot. He is well known in the Iliad as the main force for the Achaeans in the Trojan War, dubbed the “swiftest warrior,” “Achilles dear to Zeus”, and “brilliant runner.” However many do not know the story of Achilles when he walks away from the Achaean campaign over a scuffle of war prizes. His action cripples the Achaean army, costing the lives of many. The story of the Trojan War is one where Achilles ultimately leads the Achaeans to Troy and kills Hector outside Priam’s walls. However, it was Patroclus, Achilles’ brother-in-arms, who should be accredited with the Achaean victories and know for his success against the Trojans in the

Achilles can be described as a Tragic Hero in many ways. He was brave and had great strength but, he was also prideful and lacked control with his emotions, and in all the label of a tragic hero fits him. A Tragic hero is “a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy” (“Tragic Hero”). To many men Achilles was god-like, and immortal, the epitome of a hero to the Greeks, he was strong, brave in the face of war, and of noble birth because he was the son of a goddess. In the Iliad, Achilles, driven by anger seeks revenge on Hector for killing his “dearest comrade” (“The Heroic Age”), Patroclus, whom he claims to have valued more than his own life. He

During the early stages of the book where Patroclus and Achilles develop their companionship, their fate was already determined when the gods found interest in Achilles. Since Achilles was born throughout his whole life until the war he has been trained to be Aristos Achaion the greatest of the greeks. It is in his blood ever since he was born. From the first time he was mentioned in the book he was described with importance as character we should know that he will have a signifigant impact on the book.

The Iliad was an epic poem written in the 8th century BCE by the Greek poet Homer. The Iliad is considered to be the earliest work in Western literature, and is one of the most well-known and respected stories ever written. The Iliad covers the events of the last couple weeks of the ten years that the Trojan War took place. The Iliad is an epic that has many underline themes such as love, war, hate and forgiveness. The poem greatly covers Achilles roll in the Trojan War and how the gods and goddess were constantly intervening with the outcome of the war. The Iliad also vastly covers Achilles and Hectors relationship thought the last weeks of the Trojan War.

“Rage—Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ Son Achilles, / murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses. . .” (Iliad, 77) The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem that is set during the Trojan War. It tells fo the battles and events that occurred during the weeks of a sort of argument existing between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles. From the very first line of Homer’s Iliad the idea of violence is presented to us through the idea of Achilles’ rage. Violence is defined simply as behavior intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone. There are hundreds of translations of Homer’s famous text, however, no matter how the story is translated, and the methods used to do so, violence and anger remain a very important central theme.

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

Achilles’ character throughout the Iliad does not really evolve from who he is when we are first introduced to him in the epic. He is filled with an immense amount of uncontrollable rage, which in part helps him to be the extraordinary warrior that he is, but also makes him unpredictable, volatile, and headstrong. Achilles relationship with Patroclus is

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.

In Homer’s epic, Iliad, Achilles is one of the main figures of the Trojan War. Achilles’ beliefs that he defines throughout the passage are influenced by the manipulations of war that he encounters, along with a focus on what the idea of glory entails and the effects that it has on one’s honor. They are two separate concepts, he recognizes, and during the Trojan War he knew that he could not have both. In the selected passage from Book Nine, it is clear that Achilles, the Greek warrior, questions and reevaluates the idea of honor and glory, as he believes honor and glory are inherently incompatible, thus causing him to sacrifice one in order to have the other. This reevaluation emphasizes the abnormal attitude from a once fierce warrior and

The death of Patroclus, Achilles’ closest and most beloved companion, causes Achilles to be driven into a rage so intense and so focused at the source of his fury that he loses all common decency towards his target. After Hector slays

Another reason why I think Patroclus’ death is crucial to the story, is because it made Achilles angry and revengeful. The passage above not only shows us his feelings, and how much he is suffering and blaming himself for Patroclus’ faith, but it also shows us how revengeful he has become. Achilles believes he does not deserve to be alive, at least not as long as Hector breathes. And that is when he made peace with Agamemnon, rejoined the war and started to seek for Hector. Achilles killed every Trojan who crosses his way, until he found Hector and kills him too. However, it wasn’t simply a death. Achilles keep torturing his body and dragging it around for the next few days and he only stopped doing so, because the Gods made him stop. The Gods