Summary:
Follows Achilleus thru book 1 of The Iliad by Homer. Provides a character analysis of Achilleus. Maintains he is a powerful fighter and noble king. Provides many of Achilleus' quotes to support that thesis.
The Iliad Book 1 / Achilleus characterization
Achilleus: Son of Peleus, a mortal king, and the sea-goddess Thetis. The best warrior among the Achaians; leader of the Myrmidons. Other names: Peledis or Peleion; Aiakides
The book gives the definition of Achilleus' as a powerful fighter and noble king. No lines better fit these example then lines 53-67. In these few lines, Homer reveals much about the great Achain warrior known as Achilleus' through this speech to the Achaians but really he aimed it at Agamemnon. He wanted to stop the fighting and go back to the way his life was before the war began. The god Apollo has sent a plague of arrows and Achilleus wants to know why this happening. He wants the death of innocent Achaians to stop by having a hecatomb offering of bulls to the god, Apollo. These lines show Achilleus' areté and compassionate side. He shows his compassion for the Achain people by trying to stop the plague sent by the god Apollo.
In lines 117-125 you can start to see the power struggle between Achilleus and Agamemnon start to take its form. This struggle is started because of a Chrysies, a captive Trojan concubine. Achilleus wants Agamemnon to give back his stolen 'prize' but in return; he wants to take Brysies Achilleus prize. Achilleus is dishonored by this because it shows how Agamemnon thinks that he is much higher on the so-called food train Achilleus. Achilleus is very dishonored by Agamemnon's actions because he worked and fought hard for his prize and it should not be taken away by someone who held a random Trojan hostage and gave her back to appease the ransom. Even though, in the end, Achilleus does gave Brysies too Agamemnon just too appease him and let him keep fighting in the war. This shows Achilleus hubris side, because he wanted to keep his prize for himself even though her ransom would save many Achaians in the long run. This argument between the two warriors almost shows the battle between good an evil. Where good is Achilleus and bad is Agamemnon. Agamemnon takes Achilleus power and honor when he takes Brysies.
In lines 184-212 you see deep into Achilleus emotions, through his struggle to do the right thing. While auguring with Agamemnon, Achilleus was ready to pull his sword and slay Agamemnon, but the goddess Hera intervenes and stops Achilleus before he does something he regrets. Here Hera offers him two paths; he can either attack Agamemnon or kill him, or he can 'stay his anger'. If he does calm his anger he be rewarded with shining gifts. This is ironic because the gift that was already given to him was Brysies and she was taken away with force by Agamemnon.
In lines 219-242, Achilleus hubris side really shows itself. He is speaking to the Achaean community announcing that he going to stop fighting. He try's to rally his troop with his scepter a cut down tree from his homeland, Phthia. By doing this he try's to get the men to remember their homes. He says when he leaves he cant wait until the Achain children come to him, crawling on their knees and begging him to come back and defend them. When he leaves, the Achaians will regret not honoring him. This shows Achilleus hubris side because he is leaving in the height of prime as Greece's greatest warrior and without him Greece faces an uphill battle if they are going to win the battle. He is thinking about his own self good over the Achaians, the definition of being hubris.
This is the complete article, containing 597 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
