The Iliad... One of the greatest book and one of the oldest that is still around today. Its deep storyline and unique style makes it truly special. But, what is the theme of,”The Iliad”? Though a lot of people argue about the main theme of this book. It overall comes down to Achilles’ anger and wrath. In the first words of,”The Iliad”, Homer expresses Achilles’ rage and wrath through a song/poem. The anger of Achilles is aggravated by Agamemnon and Achilles’ sense of dignity. When looting one of the last standing towns of Troy, the great Greek King, Agamemnon claims the women, Chryseis, as prize and Achilles’ takes Briseis. Chryses, the father of Chryseis and priest of Apollo asks for his daughter back, but Aggenemom refuses to do so. Chryses …show more content…
Line 190, book 1, defines it perfectly,”the son of Peleus was furious, and his heart within his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword, push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and check his anger.” Achilleus and his men (myrmidons), the only strength able of destroying Hector, the Trojan prince and his army, stubbornly refused to fight because of Agamemnon's demand to release Achilles war prize, Briseis. Achilles, his myrmidons, and his close friend Patroclus, wasted the next months on the beachside while the Greek army were retreated further and further from the walls of Troy and to the brink of defeat by the ostensibly invincible Hector. Achilles wrath was still fiery and refused to flinch and essentially allowed his fellow compatriots to be murdered rather than aiding them in battle. Even his own friend, his closest friend, Patroclus attempted to inspire the stuck-up warrior and his men, the response to his plea, was Achilles’ armor. He then sent off to fight Hector and was easily killed by Hector. When finding out that Patroclus was killed by Hector, Achilles channel all of his animosity from the Greek king, to Hector and joined the fight against the