Achilleus: A superior character, or less than heroic?
Although Achilleus possesses superhuman strength and has a close relationship with the gods, he may strike modern readers as less than heroic. He has all the marks of a great warrior (one of the requirements for heroism), but his deep-seated character flaws constantly impede his ability to act with integrity or nobility. His lack of control over his pride so poisons him that he abandons his comrades in battle and even prays for their defeat, all because he has been insulted by his commander, Agamemnon. In the end Achilleus fails to meet all of the standards for heroism, and instead chooses to act according to his rage and thirst for glory. One can make a strong argument that the Iliad seems to celebrate war. Characters emerge as worthy or despicable based on their degree of competence and bravery in battle. Paris, for example, doesn't like to fight, and correspondingly receives the scorn of both his family and his lover. Achilleus on the other hand was blessed with great athletic ability and wins some glory by rejecting the option of a long, comfortable life at home. The text itself seems to support this means of judging character and extends it even to the gods. The epic holds up warlike deities such as Athena for the r
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Agamemnon Achilleus, Peleus Priam, Priam Achilleus, King Priam, , Troy Achilleus, Phthia Achilleus, Achilleus Priam, Priam Peleus, Anchor Books, priam's comparison, return hector's, prays defeat, peleus priam, return hector's corpse, hector's corpse,
Approximate Word count = 992
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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