Archetypes In The Iliad

The Iliad, not unlike other epics, introduced a formula for future novels to follow. The classic “Hero has an odd parental situation, and has some variation of a ‘gift’, hero is thrown into an unexpected setting, conflict arises within said setting, conflict is eventually resolved and friendship/love/freedom/blah, blah, blah etc. prevails” archetype. This archetype is seen in modern series such The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. However, that’s where the resemblance between the flawed-yet-noble protagonist of these bestsellers and The Iliad’s Achilles ends. While Achilles has demonstrated that he is capable of being affectionate towards others, such as his mentor Phoenix and his dear companion Patroclus ,he still

For instance, after Agamemnon steals Achilles war prize , Briseis, it is understandable for Achilles to be distressed when the woman he cares for is ripped away from him. However , Achilles proceeds to go into a sort of misery-stricken rage, wishing ill upon ALL of the Achaean army , just to extract revenge on one man. When pleading for his mother , Thetis , to go to Zeus and beg for the destruction of the Greek forces on Achilles’s behalf , raging “-...Trap them round the bay and mow them down, So all can reap the benefits of their king- so even mighty Atrides can see how mad he was to disgrace Achilles, the best of the Achaeans!” (Homer 91). Achilles allows his irrational emotions to foolishly guide him. Achilles’s egotistical behavior picks up again in book nineteen where, as previously mentioned, Agamemnon sends Great Ajax, Odysseus, and Phoenix to appeal to Achilles with gifts in hopes to persuade the great warrior to return to the Greek armies. Sadly, Achilles refuses his fellow soldier’s offer, knowing that Agamemnon 's armies will surely fail without him, even gloating “ Look- what a mighty piece of work he’s done without me! Why, he’s erected a rampart, driven a trench around it broad, enormous, and planted stakes in the ground! No use!” (Homer 263). Achilles completely disregards the hundreds and thousands of Greeks that could be

Why even Patroclus, Achilles closest comrade and prized companion, does not hesitate to admit that Achilles would “leap to accuse a friend without a fault” (Homer 318) and wise old Nestor agrees that “he has no care, no pity for our Achaeans” (Homer 318). It could be argued that, while Achilles is selfish in that situation, he remains kind because warned Patroclus to stay out of battle for his own safety in book 16. While this statement is not entirely untrue, it is still nowhere close to correct. Achilles even admits to Patroclus that he does not want his comrade, beloved as he is, to defeat the Trojans before Achilles enters the war because “you will only make my glory that much less. . .” (Homer 415). Achilles is self absorbed to the point where he basically command his dearest friend to abandon any chance of victory for the Greek forces in order to preserve his, obviously , inflated