Achilles and Agamemnon
Throughout history, the story of Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, and its hero, Achilles, has remained a work of literature to be considered by many a true classic. This epic tells the story of the madness of Achilles and how it transforms him from an angry warrior to one who struggles to understand and cope with his grief over losing his best friend Patroklos. The Greek word menis, meaning madness, is used to describe the state of mind that Achilles enters following his feud with Agamemnon, and from this point forward it is possible to see that he is being ruled by this menis throughout much of the epic. Towards the end of the poem, Achilles finally comes to his senses after hearing of the death of Patroklos at the hand of the Trojan warrior Hektor. However, he is unable to recover from the Petroklos's death until Hektor's father, Priam, visits him. It is only at this point that Achilles realizes that he is not a complete being, although he is an accomplished and respected warrior. Priam's visit forces Achilles to realize this, and by doing so Achilles becomes a more complete person. In Book I, the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon is the starting point of the menis of Achilles. The great warrior attempts to give Agamemnon advi
Even though Achilles is still being ruled by this menis, he realizes the extraordinary amount of power he holds over Agamemnon and the Akhaians. He is holding every Akhaian soldier's life in his hands. Should he choose to rejoin this battle and choose his fate of a short but glorious life filled with honor, these soldiers' lives would be saved. Should he choose instead to remain separate from the battle and choose his fate of a long but obscure life, these soldiers' lives would be lost and the Trojans would have won the war. Achilles, being a very proud man, will not allow Agamemnon to appease him until Achilles finds a good enough reason to continue fighting. Until that happens, the menis controls Achilles, and he and his men remain withdrawn from the battles. Zeus, having done what was asked of him by Thetis and Achilles, realizes that not even a god could persuade Achilles to go back into the battle, but his great friend Patroklos is the only one who could bring Achilles past the menis that is controlling his actions. Achilles allows Patroklos to lead the Myrmidons into battle and gives Patroklos his own armor for protection. Although Achilles himself remains separate from the battle, he places Patroklos in charge, but warns him not to continue the fight into Ilion. As long as he remains far enough away from the Trojans, they will not recognize him as Patroklos and think his is Achilles, giving him added protection by the fear of the Trojans. Then, as Patroklos enters into battle, Zeus stirs his heart with fury, causing him to disobey Achilles's orders and enter into Ilion. There, he battles with the great Trojan warrior, Hektor, and is killed. Hektor strips Patroklos of Achilles's armor and eventually allows the Myrmidons to bear his body back to Achilles, following another battle over the body of Patroklos. Once Achilles learns of Patroklos's death, his only thoughts are those of revenge for the death of his best friend. Eagerly, he reconciles with Agamemnon and renounces his menis. His mother Thetis gives Achilles new armor and a shield crafted by the god Hêphaistos to protect him in the upcoming battles. Now that Achilles has rejoined the war to avenge Patroklos's death, he receives the gives promised him by Agamemnon, although they mean little to him as they can not appease the grief and pain he feels over the death of his best friend. He believes that the only way he can appease his grief is to kill Hektor, and now that his fighting spirit has been restored, he sets out to do so. In one great battle, Achilles and Hektor clash and Achilles, u
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1731
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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