Achilles And Agamemnon Essay Research Paper Throughout

Achilles And Agamemnon Essay, Research Paper

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 advice, but he dismisses it as an attempt by Achilles to gain power over the Akhaian troops. As punishment, Agamemnon reclaims Achilles’s war prize, the Trojan girl Bris is of whom the great warrior has become very fond. Achilles becomes so infuriated with Agamemnon’s arrogance and refusals to even consider his advice that he issues an oath to Agamemnon.

I swear a day will come when every Akhaian soldier will groan to have Achilles back. That day you shall no more prevail on me than this dry wood shall flourish – driven though you are, and though a thousand men perish before the killer, Hektor. You will eat your heart out, raging with remorse for this dishonor done to you by the bravest of Akhaians.

With this oath issued to Agamemnon and the Akhaians, Achilles withdraws his troops, the Myrmidons, and refuses to fight until his own ships and camp are threatened by the Trojans, or Dan ns. For twelve days Achilles sat apart from the rest of his men, staring out to the ocean, ruled by this menis, having no ability to go on with his life until he is aided by his mother, Thetis, imploring Zeus to help Achilles win back his honor. At length, Zeus agrees to help Thetis and Achilles, and in Book II he initializes his plan by sending a dream to Agamemnon in an attempt to persuade the Akhaians to fight. Instead, his plan backfires as Agamemnon decides to test his men by telling them they are returning home. Eventually, however, the Akhaians are ready to do battle with the Trojans. Noticeably absent in this battle are Achilles and the Myrmidons, as Achilles is still sitting separate from his men, gazing out to sea. As the epic continues, Achilles name is not mentioned with any significance until Book IX, when Nestor advises Agamemnon to make amends with Achilles, as the Akhaians were beginning to lose the war to the Trojans. Agamemnon sends Odysseus, Aias, and Phoinix to try and persuade Achilles and the Myrmidons to rejoin the war with promises of many gifts of appeasement. All three men separately try and persuade Achilles to do battle again, but Achilles continually refuses Agamemnon’s plea and offers of gifts.

Give in to Agamemnon? I think not, neither to him nor to the rest. I had small thanks for fighting, fighting without truce against hard enemies here. The portion’s equal whether a man hangs back or fights his best; the same respect, or lack of it, is given brave man and coward. One who’s active dies like the do-nothing. What least thing have I to show for it, for harsh days of undergone and my life gambled, all these years of war? A bird will give her fledglings every scrap she comes by, and go hungry, foraging. That is the case with me.

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. Th