Books 1 and 22 of The Iliad consist of captivating accounts of the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon as well as the death of Hector, the mightiest warrior in the Trojan army. It seems that pride and honor are most valued among the warriors and gods in the tale, and that anyone who dares to injure or violate someone’s pride prompts a response of great wrath and vengeance. I found it rather foolish of Agamemnon to take away Achilles’s prize, Briseis, when it is bound to incur Achilles’s anguish and rage. Achilles, though he is egoistical, is able to control his anger through Athena’s calming words as well as those of his mother’s. However, in Book 22, he is cold and shows no compassion for Hector’s wish for Achilles to send his body home for proper burial.
One question I had in my reading arose during Achilles’ speech, “If down in Hades men forget their dead, even there I will remember my companion” (line 389, Book 22). Why do the characters assume they are going to hell? Do they not believe in forgiveness or the possibility of salvation? By being warriors and killing others, do they automatically accept their fate?
0 comments:
Post a Comment