Achilles Speech In Book 9: Achilles

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Response Paper 2
In Achilles speech in book 9 he says he will not help the Achaeans in the fight against Troy. Up until this point, Achilles main reason for not fighting has been that he was mad at Agamemnon for taking away Brises. Although this is still the case, Achilles’ speech in lines 397-413 suggest that he has other reasons for not fighting as well. Achilles has known forever that he is destined to die young, in a glorious battle, and he has good reason to believe that if he fights in this war it will kill him. Achilles is known by now to be very emotional, and, for a demi-god, he has an overwhelming sense of humanity. It is Achilles’ fear of death, a completely natural human emotion that is stopping him from fighting in this war. Although