Achiles

Q.
Discuss Achilles as the greatest Greek hero in The Iliad .
Introduction-
The Iliad is not a work that gives a mere account of historic facts and events but one where persons are
the protagonists by virtue of their behaviors, values, motives and decisions which affect the flow of the story. is
one of these persons that play a primary role in the plot of Iliad. The Iliad is primarily about Achilles and the
Trojan War as it is affected by his wrath, or anger, especially, against Agamemnon. The son of the immortal
sea-nymph Thetis and the Phthian king Peleus, Achilles, the protagonist of the Iliad, is by far the greatest
warrior of the Trojan War.
Conflict with Agamemnon
The Iliad begins with Achilles getting into an argument with Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek
troops, because Agamemnon has publicly shamed Achilles by taking away his war prize, a woman named
Briseis. Achilles responds to this insult to his pride by withdrawing himself and his men from the conflict.
Consequently, the quarrel between himself and Agamemnon turns as righteous to him as is the war against the
Trojans.
Revengeful
Not only does Achilles decide to sit out the war he asks his mother, the goddess Thetis, to ask Zeus to
help the Trojans:''...Bid him give succour to the Trojans. Let the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of
their ships, and perish on the sea-shore,” Achilles is asking all these because he bears a grudge against
Agamemnon and he wants him to suffer. This demonstrates a particularly vengeful part of Achilles's character.
Flaws; Pride and Rage
“And look, you see how handsome and powerful I am?”
Achilles is proud of his appearance and heroism. He understands his importance in the Achaeans army
and wants to demonstrate that the Greeks cannot do as well fighting without him. His deep-seated character
flaws constantly impede his ability to act with nobility and integrity. He cannot control his pride or the rage that
surges up when that pride is injured. This attribute so poisons him that he abandons his comrades and even
prays that the Trojans will slaughter them, all because he has been slighted at the hands of his commander,
Agamemnon.
It is Achilles' anger that is paramount throughout most of the epic. But even after Agamemnon offers to
return Briseis, along with numerous other gifts, Achilles remains angry, indicating that one of Achilles' major
character flaws is his excessive pride. His rage even causes him to almost attempt to kill Agamemnon. His rage
even causes him to almost attempt to kill Agamemnon.
Greatest Warrior
Achilles is the greatest warrior in the Achaian army and withdrawal from the fighting, is crucial to the
plot. He is invulnerable because his mother dipped him in the River Styx as a baby. He is responsible for death
of Hector and slaying thousands of Trojan heroes. No warrior comes close to being his equal as a fighter.
Social responsibility
Achilles has a strong sense of social order that in the beginning manifests itself in his concern for the
deadly plague destroying the soldiers. Achilles decides to call for an assembly to find out why the plague is
killing hundreds of Achaian soldiers. But in the process, he creates disorder when it is revealed that
Agamemnon is responsible for the deadly plague. Thus, Achilles' attempt to return order to the Achaian camp
does little, ultimately, to establish order.
Glory
“I say no wealth is worth my life...a man’s life breath cannot come back again.”
Achilles is driven primarily by a thirst for glory. He comes to question the idea of fighting for glory
alone because "A man dies still if he has done nothing. It is only after Patroklos' death Achilles begins to see
life and relationships with other people from a mortal point of view, and at the same time, he is drawing ever
closer to the divine aspects of love.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Achilles’ hunting of excessive honor and glory deprive him of living a balanced life.
Achilles’ may be admired for his boldness in battle, but on the other hand he has little to show in his social and
family life. Like most Homeric characters, Achilles does not develop significantly over the course of the
epic. Although the death of Patroclus prompts him to seek reconciliation with Agamemnon, it does not alleviate
his rage, but instead redirects it toward Hector. His sense of loyalty to his cousin, Patroclus, and his mercy to
King Priam showed a benevolent and compassionate side of the warrior. On the other hand, Achilles was also
fierce, quick-tempered and, in some instances, capable of great cruelty. Thus Achilles is portrayed as a
complex personality, capable of both benevolence and utter savagery.

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Q.

Discuss Achilles as the greatest Greek hero in The Iliad .

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