Pride

"The Song of Achilles" is about love, but even more, it is a story about pride. The Trojan war lasts such a long time because neither camp is willing to say 'enough.' Agamemnon is a shining example of how pride can get in the way of victory. He wants to be perceived as the leader. The high priest who seeks his daughter walks away without her because Agamemnon has become too proud.

Achilles does not bow to Agamemnon as all of the other kings have done, because of his pride. Achilles is fiercely proud and he will not bend to anyone. Patroclus is always willing to hide in the background but Achilles will have no such thing. He hides for no one. When Agamemnon takes Briseis, Achilles is more concerned about receiving an apology from him than anything else. His fellow countrymen are dying and Briseis is...