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The tragedy of achilles in iliad
The tragedy of achilles in iliad
The tragedy of achilles in iliad
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More handpicked essays just for you.
The tragedy of achilles in iliad
The tragedy of achilles in iliad
The tragedy of achilles in iliad
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In the epic poem, the Illiad by Homer, Achilles is the most courageous character. For example, Achilles avenges his best friend Patroclus death by battling Hector for revenge. After Achilles is informed about Patroclus death he says, "if Hector does not feel my battering spear tear the life out of him, making him pay in his own blood for the slaughter of Patroclus!" (ln 28-30). His bravery shines through this act because he puts himself out there to avenge his friends death.
War brings out the best in Homer’s heroes, as they tap previously unknown reserves of strength, courage, and loyalty. But war also can bring out the worst in men. The theme of honor and masculinity is very strong that it overshadows the barbarity and unavoidable death or war. If they don’t battle it is considered an insult to masculinity. Achilles is driven by pride, anger and grief which leads him to go to war.
In the Iliad, Achilles doesn’t go through any stages of personal development, except for possibly when King Priam begs him to return Hector’s body. This may have been development, or it could be his grieving for Patroclus, so he didn’t really care. Throughout the book, he keeps his blind anger/bloodlust, causing him to maul his enemies (Hector), without morals, and easily wounded pride, which puts him into a full blown rage and holds a long grudge for it, like what happened with
Achilleus’ Rage Hero’s are found multiple times in Homer’s Iliad. The strong Patroklos is considered a hero in his selfless offering to go into battle to fight with his friends. As he pleads with Achilleus saying, “ then send me out at least, let the rest of the Myrmidon people follow me, and I may be a light given to the Danaans” (XVI.
Achilles was promised Briseis would become his wife. Achilles was furious with Agamemnon, but Agamemnon would only return Chryseis if he got Briseis in return ( ). A reason Achilles was selfish was because he was angry that Agamemnon took Chryseis. Achilles was angry that it hurt his pride. Achilles seemed to have a compassionate side, but of course he was not perfect.
Throughout book 18 of the Iliad, we are told in great detail of Achilles magnificent shield. Achilles decides to go into battle, but Hector has his armor. His mother, Thetis, hears his cries and comes down to him. He asks her to find armor that is stronger than his armor that Hector has taken. Thetis goes up to Hephaistos and requests him to make this armor as fast as he can.
Achilles epitomizes the most and least desirable traits of an ancient Greek man. The “swift runner” (2.66) is virtuous in his piety towards the gods. A demigod, favored by Zeus and Hera, he shows his reverence of (to?) the gods in wishing to placate Apollo and in heeding Athena, “Goddess, a man submits though his heart breaks with fury. Better for him by far.
The Iliad is an epic about one incident in the Trojan War. Achilles responds by withdrawing from fighting and praying to Zeus to let the other side,Trojans,win for a while so that his own side will see how badly it needs him. Achilles now forgets his quarrel with Agamemnon and rushes back into battle as soon as new armor could have made for him and despite being warned twice that his punishment was death very soon or next after Hector. He kills Hector and then refuses to let his body be buried until Hector's aged father, King Priam of Troy, comes to Achilles at night and offers ransom. Achilles accepts and gives up the body for Priam to take back to Troy.
Over time the concept of honor has varied due to the change in people mentality and the circumstances, also it meaning could change depending on the culture of each person. To understand how honor is implied in the Iliad, first we need to understand the different point of views of each characters, especially Hector and Achilles which I will describe and try to understand their honor. In ancient times people were governed under a system of values that promoted gallantry, force in battle, the verve and honesty and the protection of the weakest. However, all these values turned in a lathe to a single purpose, the most important theme in the lives of these characters, or to put it in another way: “honor”. By analyzing the characters mentioned before,
It is his torment and suffering which makes Achilles a compassionate figure. The Iliad is a chronicle of Achilles' grief and rage. After the death of Patroclus, Achilles kills Hector. Before his death, Hector begged Achilles to return his body to his
In battle Patroclus (a good friend of Achilles) was slaughtered by Hektor. " Hector, vaunt as you will, for Jove the son of Saturn and Apollo have vouchsafed you victory; it is they who have vanquished me so easily, and they who have stripped the armour from my shoulders; had twenty such men as you attacked me, all of them would have fallen before my spear. Fate and the son of Leto have overpowered me, and among mortal men Euphorbus; you are yourself third only in the killing of me. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, you too shall live but for a little season; death and the day of your doom are close upon you, and they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles son of Aeacus."
Homer’s Iliad is one of the best poem’s to be written. To include, the Iliad is one of the oldest, most famous, and one of the most breathtaking story about men during a period of war. You might begin to get addicted to mythology after reading this poem. Homer does a good job to show war in such a different way and to actually keep it fun and interesting.
The Iliad which was composed by Homer is about an incident of destructive violent rage that occurred in the Greek camp in the ninth year of the Trojan War which lasted for ten years. This rage is invoked by the conflict between Achilles, son of Peleus and Agamemnon son of Atreus. Agamemnon is the son of King Atreus of Mycenae, the brother of Menelaus and the husband of Clytemnestra with whom he had four children namely :Orestes, Iphigenia, Electra and Chrysothemis. Agamemnon inherited the title of king from his father.
In the epic poem, The Iliad, Achilles leaves the Greeks during battle because of his anger and rage towards Agamemnon. He refused to help the Greeks even when the Trojans were defeating them. However, when Hector kills Achilles’ close friend Patroclus, Achilles forgets about his anger over Briseis and joins the war again
Iliad is recognized as one of the most famous ancient monuments of literature. The full understanding of this epic poem is hardly possible without thorough analysis of its main characters. Among all the episodes of the Trojan War, Homer chooses the moment of Achilles’ wrath and thus creates a poem in which he becomes the central figure. From the Ancient Greeks’ point of view, Achilles represents the ideal of manliness and pure heroism, for he is brave and fights for heroics, not profits. Today, one can agree with this interpretation, yet Achilles is probably the most controversial character because he combines various personality traits and acts in accordance with his ambiguous nature.