Blog Post #6: Achilles Behavior in the Iliad

Achilles, a demi-god and the son of Thetis and Peleus, was a Greek hero who is known for his involvement in the Trojan War in Homer's The Iliad. The question I ask myself after reading this story is Achilles a hero for his actions? Is he considered a hero after what he had done to Hector after the death of his friend Patroclus? I believe that while he is considered a hero for his bravery in the war against the Trojans, he can also be nefarious for his actions.

Although he has a few positive traits in which he is fearless and brave, Achilles has a few flaws. For instance, he is quick-tempered at the beginning of the story when he argues with Agamemnon for taking Briseis, his prize as well as his wife, away from him after giving up Chrysesis to her priest father after he seeks Apollo's help in returning his daughter. Achilles is also shown to be cruel when he killed Hector as an act of revenge for murdering his friend Patroclus and ties his body with a rope attached to the back of the chariot and drags his dead body around the walls in front of everyone. Another negative trait he has is violent rage which he murders the Trojan soldiers before making his way to battle Hector. His wrath and violent fury is what fueled his hatred towards Hector for killing the only friend he cared about.

What makes a hero a hero in the 21st century is risking your life to save others to protect their country during the war. A hero is fearless, courageous, and compassionate who is willing to protect others from harm. Achilles is considered a hero since he is one of the greatest warriors who is not afraid to fight. He is loyal and caring towards his friend Patroclus as well as his mother Thetis when she came to comfort him after his humiliation. One of the Greek values Achilles had throughout the story was Kleos, Glory from battle and timé , honor. Achilles fought with great honor and glory during the Trojan War for winning successful battles against the Trojans. His prizes from the previous battles, for example he took a woman named Briseis, are evidence of his triumph. Back then, a hero would be a fearless warrior who fought in the war and earned their prizes after defeating their enemies while in the modern world a hero is an individual who saved another person's life without being rewarded.

While Achilles is seen as a hero, there are instances where he is shown to be callous. As mentioned before, he killed Hector and dragged his body around the walls on his chariot as vengeance to humiliate him after his death. After that, Achilles refused to return Hector's body to his enemies until Priam begged him towards the end of the Iliad. Furthermore, Achilles has anger issues which he is about to harm Agamemnon in an argument until Athena stops him. After he loses his glory, Achilles decides to leave the war and sulk like a baby who lost his favorite toy. Overall, Achilles is shown to be merciless, violent, and indignant, one of these characteristics that makes him look like a bad guy than a hero.

Throughout the second half of the story, Achilles turned into a cold-hearted man when he refused to give back Hector's body to king Priam. His actions towards Hector was atrocious since he wanted to disgrace his enemy more even after his death, making him appear to be a malicious person. When Priam mentions his father, Achilles had a change of heart and decides to give back Hector's body to him.

"Think of your father, O Achilles like unto the gods, who is such even as I am, on the sad threshold of old age. It may be that those who dwell near him harass him, and there is none to keep war and ruin from him. Yet when he hears of you being still alive, he is glad, and his days are full of hope that he shall see his dear son come home to him from Troy; but I, wretched man that I am, had the bravest in all Troy for my sons, and there is not one of them left. I had fifty sons when the Achaeans came here; nineteen of them were from a single womb, and the others were borne to me by the women of my household. The greater part of them has fierce Mars laid low, and Hector, him who was alone left, him who was the guardian of the city and ourselves, him have you lately slain; therefore I am now come to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom his body from you with a great ransom. Fear, O Achilles, the wrath of heaven; think on your own father and have compassion upon me, who am the more pitiable, for I have steeled myself as no man yet has ever steeled himself before me, and have raised to my lips the hand of him who slew my son."

    "Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of Achilles yearned as he bethought him of his father. He took the old man's hand and moved him gently away. The two wept bitterly- Priam, as he lay at Achilles' feet, weeping for Hector, and Achilles now for his father and now for Patroclous, till the house was filled with their lamentation. But when Achilles was now sated with grief and had unburthened the bitterness of his sorrow, he left his seat and raised the old man by the hand, in pity for his white hair and beard;"

 Priam's speech is what made Achilles change his mind when he mentioned how his father, Peleus, is happy to know that he is still alive while Priam mourns the death of his fifty sons, especially Hector. Achilles is reminded of the death of his close friend Patroclus and the two men grieve over the loss of their loved ones. In the end, Achilles was a warrior who did terrible things after his friends' death, but he sets aside his hatred he held and decided to grant Priam's wish and have Hector be properly buried. He completed his social tasks as an epic hero of the Trojan War, remembering his honor and glory and the impact of war that affected the Greeks and the Trojans.




Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/achilles
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/feb/16/achilles-homer-iliad-brutal-vain-pitiless-hero
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/history/21h-301-the-ancient-world-greece-fall-2004/assignments/paper1_rev.pdf
http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/iliad.24.xxiv.html