Summary:
Rage in book one of the Lliad by Homer
In The Iliad, we can tell from the beginning a strong sense of favouritism from Homer towards Achilles. The opening scene is set in the tenth year of the Trojan War. From the first line, we read Homer instructing a muse to sing of Achilles anger and resentment.
'Sing, Goddess, of the anger of Achilleus'
Homer creates a powerful introduction, describing fierce and almost gruesome scenes, 'making their bodies the prey to dogs and birds' feasting.' Although the introduction is quite harsh and disturbing, it creates an atmosphere which continues throughout the whole chapter, this emphasises Achilles anger.
Homer refers to Agamemnon as the 'Lord of men' whereas he refers to Achilles as 'Godlike'. Agamemnon is only a lord through inheritance, he will never be godlike or of any importance after he is dead. Whereas he describes Achilles as Godlike, a god amongst men. Achilles' mother is a goddess, Thetis, God of the sea and daughter of Nereus.
Homer tells us about Agamemnon taking Chryseïs, the priest's daughter. Chryses comes to Agamemnon with great respect and honour and asks for the safe return of his daughter, he also offers a generous ransom. The Achaeans agree with his offer but Agamemnon refuses it and sends Chryses off, thus leading to their dishonour to the god Apollo. "'She will work in the loom, and serve my bed." Chryses prays to Apollo to punish the Achaeans for their selfish actions. For nine days Apollo sends a plague of arrows upon the Greek warriors until the goddess Hera tells Achilles to hold an assembly to discuss this misfortune. He calls upon Calchas, a great prophet to tell them why Apollo, the far shooter, is punishing them. Calchas is reluctant to tell him unless he vows to protect him from any harm from Agamemnon. After Achilles vows protection, Calchas tells them that the reason for this plague of arrows is due to Agamemnon ignoring the priest's wishes for the safe return of his daughter. He then speaks of Chryses prayers to Apollo to punish the Achaeans for their dishonourable behaviour. To correct the sin, the Achaeans must give Chryseïs back without accepting any ransom and must give a hundred bulls for sacrifice. Agamemnon is furious with Calchas, he then reminds the Calchas of his prophecy to sacrifice a virgin girl, which turned out to be Agamemnon's own daughter, to enable the ships to sail to Troy. Agamemnon reluctantly releases Chryseïs back to her father and offers the sacrifice to Apollo to appease him. However, in return for Chryseïs, he wants another prize.
Agamemnon then decides he wants the prize that he awarded Achilles for his heroism in the war. Achilles is furious and takes out his sword to kill Agamemnon. Hera send the goddess Athena to stop him, she promises Achilles that justice will be done for Agamemnons' great dishonour towards Achilles. The loss of Briseis is not humiliating because he has any kind of romantic attachment to her. It is humiliating because she was a prize given to Achilles by Agamemnon for valour. When Agamemnon takes her away as is his technical right to do, although it clearly violates rules of respect and honourable conduct he dishonours Achilles horribly and devalues Achilles' contributions as a warrior. Achilles finds this to be tremendously unjust and withdraws from battle taking with him all of his soldiers.
Achilles informs Agamemnon that one day he will come running to Achilles for his help, they will need his protection from Hector, and Agamemnon will regret his pride. Nestor, the oldest of the Achaean kings, asks Agamemnon not to take Briseis, Achilles fairly won prize and informs Achilles to respect Agamemnons position. Neither Achilles nor Agamemnon listens to Nestor and Achilles returns to his ship.
Achilles is humiliated and calls upon his mother Thetis. He weeps to his mother of his disgrace and asks Thetis to help him win justice over Agamemnon. Thetis then goes to Zeus and asks him to intervene so that the Achaeans may know suffering as long as Achilles does not fight. Zeus is reluctant because his wife Hera would be furious because she hates the Trojans and would hate to see them win any success, despite this; Zeus agrees to support Achilles decision. Hera then finds out about Zeus' plans and is outraged! The two gods argue bitterly until Zeus threatens to hurt her if she doesn't keep quiet.
As we can see Homer not only focuses on Achilles anger and hatred, but he also focus' on Agamemnon's selfishness and thoughtlessness. Agamemnon is also spiteful towards his wife, and confesses that he prefers Chryseïs to Klytaimestra. By doing this he completely dishonours his wife and completely humiliates her;
"I indeed prefer her to Klytaimestra the wife of my marriage, as she is in no way inferior in body or stature."
The theme of anger is shown through Hera and Zeus when they have a disagreement. It is also relevant when the Achaeans dishonour Apollo thus leading to his anger towards the Greeks. We also see how the great warrior, Achilles weeps to his mother which shows that he is only mortal because he feels pain and dishonour. Thetis responds with great sadness informing her son that he will die young and with great sorrow.
This is the complete article, containing 875 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page).
