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Examples Of Humility In The Iliad

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The Iliad Argumentative paper on pride/humility

Pride damages many things; one’s relationships, other people, and even oneself.
Many characters in the Iliad had to find out the hard way how Pride destroys these things, but there are also examples which show how humility restores. Achilles was one of the characters who had the most issues with pride. Early in the Iliad, Book I, King Agamemnon took Briseis, a girl Achilles had won, and in doing so, made Achilles so bitter that he refused to continue fighting in the Trojan war. Agamemnon soon realized his folly, but Achilles was too prideful to accept the peace offerings from Agamemnon. Being the top fighter, Achilles’ pride also hurt the entire Achaean army, and without him, they almost lost the whole war. …show more content…

The Trojan Prince, Hector had gotten a very big ego from being his parents' favorite child, and the Trojans’ “hero.” So, when Achilles finally relented and joined the battle, Hector quickly retreated his men, so that he would not face defeat. A little while later, that same pride killed him. Hector, refusing to meet the shame that awaited him at Troy, and hoping to restore his heroism, stood outside Troy’s gates to fight Achilles. Achilles was the more experienced warrior of the two, and Hector was killed. (Iliad, Book 22) Not all of the warriors were prideful. Achilles best friend, Patrocolus, had a very different mindset than Achilles and Hector. Patrocles chose the path of humility and servitude. Patrocles first noticed how wounded the Achaean army was without the gallant fighter, and tried to convince Achilles to forget his grudge and help fight. But, when Achilles still refused, Patroclus went himself, and as he was fighting, died. When word of his death reached Achilles, he finally put his pride behind him, and joined the war, to win for Patrocles’ sake. (Iliad, Books 16 &

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