The Tragedy of Achilles
Dominique Vigil
December 3, 2020
December 3, 2020
Achilles is a tragic figure. Achilles is excellent because of his strength, compassion, and passion. Even so, Achilles has a flaw. This flaw is passion, the love he has for Patroclus. He allows his passion to spring death and destruction. Achilles fall reveals the devastation of war by polluting the vulnerability of men. War alters the tranquility between and within us. Finally, when facing the results of his actions, Achilles realizes he is at fault for what he has lost, and this concludes the arch of his tragedy. These characteristics identify Achilles as a tragic figure.
Achilles is the most acknowledged character in Homer's Iliad. Achille's strength is an aspect that sets him apart from all the other characters. For example, Knox describes Achilles as "godlike..." (Knox.45). Through this comparison, we can determine that Achilles inhabits qualities comparable to the gods. During Knox's analysis of Achilles, he indicates that Achilles is always one with the dual nature of the gods; he entices fear "When he does go into battle, Trojans turn and run for the gates" (Knox.55). Achille's strength is one of his most recognizable attributes. However, Achilles's immense compassion and passion are the real factors that set him apart. Achille's compassion is the element that makes him an admirable character. When Hector returns to Troy, his wife Andromache explains Achilles was the cause of her father's death, saying, "he'd show some respect... he burned his corpse in all his blazoned bronze... then heaped a grave-mound" (6.495). She points out Achilles's respect for soldiers. He buries Andromache's father (Eetion) and does not strip him of his armor. When the pressure set upon Achilles to conform to Agamemnon, Achilles continues to be the epitome of compassion by defending the soldiers and explaining "we... follow you, to please you, to fight for you, to win your honor back from the Trojans" (1.186). In the introduction, Knox examines human nature within the soldiers and highlights that the need for survival can overtake passion. He explains that Achilles is willing to disregard any sense of survival due to the "godlike nature of his passionate intensity" (Knox.55). Achilles' strength, compassion, and passion are what identifies him as great.
Achilles flaw is his self-assured hubris nature. Achilles hubris quality prohibits his ability to prevail and intervene before fatal escalations. He is at fault for his destruction. While Achaean soldiers were dying, Achilles was unable to control his arrogance and refused to fight while Patroclus shed tears for his comrades, saying, "such heavy blows... overwhelm the troops... Diomedes brought down by an archer, Odysseus wounded... Agamemnon too... but you are intractable Achilles... you heart of iron!" (26.413). Due to Achilles inability to overcome his pride, Patroclus dies. Eventually, Achilles becomes engrossed with killing. He rationalizes his actions by rejecting the proper method for coping with loss, and instead, he chooses violence. In the introduction, Knox Explains, "[at this] point... Achilles is a killer." (Knox.49). Achilles fault is his inability to overcome his pride.
Achilles fall is after Patroclus’s death. After receiving the news, Homer describes Achilles to be stricken by grief, stating, "Achilles lay[s] there fallen" (18.29). This transition point is the deindividuation of Achilles. When Achilles wants to return to battle, his mother asks Hephaestus to forge Achilles' shield. Hephaestus "made the earth...the sky...the sea...the inexhaustible blazing sun...the moon...constellations...two noble cities...feasts... a quarrel...[and] a divi[sion within an] army" (18.565). The shield incorporates all factors in life and emphasizes the unimportance of war. At the beginning of the Iliad, Achilles disregards war as if it were insignificant to him. After Patroclus's death, war consumes him. Overtaken by the malice of war, Achilles disregards all compassion previously within him. Achilles original character traits transform. Rather than respecting a prince through a proper burial, Homer narrates, "Achilles grabb[ing] a foot, slung him into the river... he cried … lie there! Make your bed with the fishes..." (21.136). Achilles declaration after killing a prince is a significate indication of his change in morality, especially when compared to how he handled the killing of Andromache's father.
Deities and individuals coincide through a relationship that explains some inconceivable realities. Knox corroborates this by explaining, "there is a correlation...between divine intervention and independent human action" (knox.39). After Achilles announces his objective of killing Hector, Thetis warns he has angered the gods by explaining, "you're doomed to a short life... for all you say... your death must come at once" (18.110). This is an example of the relationship between divine interventions that foreshadows a future event. Deities also represent the attributes of the characters. For example, when Athena helps Achilles it is because she represents his wisdom. The relationship between individuals and the gods vaguely explains our concept of action and consequence.
After Achilles completes his goal of killing Hector and is left with nothing. Priam, afflicted with grief, enters the Achaean territory to beg for Hector’s body; after delivering his speech, Homer explained, "Achilles wept himself, now for his father, now for Patroclus..." (24.597). Overtaken by emotion, Achilles feels sympathy for Priam and grief for his father and friend. The emotion allows him to reflect and have compassion for Priam. Although Achilles agrees to give back Hector stating, "my own minds made up to give you back your son" (24.657). Achilles still demands more and is not willing to spare Troy. At this point, we can recognize his compassion’s rehabilitation. Of course, the revitalization of his compassion is not complete because Patroclus represented some forms of Achilles. In consequence, with the death of Patroclus also comes the death of fragmentations of his compassion.
This is Achilles tragedy. Achilles attributes make him a worthy character. Nevertheless, Achilles passion is his fault. This fault leads him down a path of destruction and a loss of compassion. Towards the end of the Iliad, we begin to understand the consequences of war. In the introduction, Knox explains there is no escape from the suffering of war, writing, "The equality of men of war, all of whom must face [a] violent death" (Knox. 37). Homer describes Priam having to "put to my lips the hand of the man who killed my son" (24.591). Priam had to plead Achilles for his son's body. After Patroclus's death, Achilles is "weeping uncontrollably" (18.36). Even then, the Achaeans and Trojans are equal in the aspects of heartache. The women and children behind the gates of the Trojan wall are "Mourning, and warm tears came streaming down their cheeks" (24.932). They too have felt the agony of war. This illustrates the effect of war, which outweighs the benefits. Both sides feel the consequences of war. Although they are different, when exposed to war, they are facing the same struggles of death, trauma, and grief. In the end, they are no different from their enemies.
Achilles is the most acknowledged character in Homer's Iliad. Achille's strength is an aspect that sets him apart from all the other characters. For example, Knox describes Achilles as "godlike..." (Knox.45). Through this comparison, we can determine that Achilles inhabits qualities comparable to the gods. During Knox's analysis of Achilles, he indicates that Achilles is always one with the dual nature of the gods; he entices fear "When he does go into battle, Trojans turn and run for the gates" (Knox.55). Achille's strength is one of his most recognizable attributes. However, Achilles's immense compassion and passion are the real factors that set him apart. Achille's compassion is the element that makes him an admirable character. When Hector returns to Troy, his wife Andromache explains Achilles was the cause of her father's death, saying, "he'd show some respect... he burned his corpse in all his blazoned bronze... then heaped a grave-mound" (6.495). She points out Achilles's respect for soldiers. He buries Andromache's father (Eetion) and does not strip him of his armor. When the pressure set upon Achilles to conform to Agamemnon, Achilles continues to be the epitome of compassion by defending the soldiers and explaining "we... follow you, to please you, to fight for you, to win your honor back from the Trojans" (1.186). In the introduction, Knox examines human nature within the soldiers and highlights that the need for survival can overtake passion. He explains that Achilles is willing to disregard any sense of survival due to the "godlike nature of his passionate intensity" (Knox.55). Achilles' strength, compassion, and passion are what identifies him as great.
Achilles flaw is his self-assured hubris nature. Achilles hubris quality prohibits his ability to prevail and intervene before fatal escalations. He is at fault for his destruction. While Achaean soldiers were dying, Achilles was unable to control his arrogance and refused to fight while Patroclus shed tears for his comrades, saying, "such heavy blows... overwhelm the troops... Diomedes brought down by an archer, Odysseus wounded... Agamemnon too... but you are intractable Achilles... you heart of iron!" (26.413). Due to Achilles inability to overcome his pride, Patroclus dies. Eventually, Achilles becomes engrossed with killing. He rationalizes his actions by rejecting the proper method for coping with loss, and instead, he chooses violence. In the introduction, Knox Explains, "[at this] point... Achilles is a killer." (Knox.49). Achilles fault is his inability to overcome his pride.
Achilles fall is after Patroclus’s death. After receiving the news, Homer describes Achilles to be stricken by grief, stating, "Achilles lay[s] there fallen" (18.29). This transition point is the deindividuation of Achilles. When Achilles wants to return to battle, his mother asks Hephaestus to forge Achilles' shield. Hephaestus "made the earth...the sky...the sea...the inexhaustible blazing sun...the moon...constellations...two noble cities...feasts... a quarrel...[and] a divi[sion within an] army" (18.565). The shield incorporates all factors in life and emphasizes the unimportance of war. At the beginning of the Iliad, Achilles disregards war as if it were insignificant to him. After Patroclus's death, war consumes him. Overtaken by the malice of war, Achilles disregards all compassion previously within him. Achilles original character traits transform. Rather than respecting a prince through a proper burial, Homer narrates, "Achilles grabb[ing] a foot, slung him into the river... he cried … lie there! Make your bed with the fishes..." (21.136). Achilles declaration after killing a prince is a significate indication of his change in morality, especially when compared to how he handled the killing of Andromache's father.
Deities and individuals coincide through a relationship that explains some inconceivable realities. Knox corroborates this by explaining, "there is a correlation...between divine intervention and independent human action" (knox.39). After Achilles announces his objective of killing Hector, Thetis warns he has angered the gods by explaining, "you're doomed to a short life... for all you say... your death must come at once" (18.110). This is an example of the relationship between divine interventions that foreshadows a future event. Deities also represent the attributes of the characters. For example, when Athena helps Achilles it is because she represents his wisdom. The relationship between individuals and the gods vaguely explains our concept of action and consequence.
After Achilles completes his goal of killing Hector and is left with nothing. Priam, afflicted with grief, enters the Achaean territory to beg for Hector’s body; after delivering his speech, Homer explained, "Achilles wept himself, now for his father, now for Patroclus..." (24.597). Overtaken by emotion, Achilles feels sympathy for Priam and grief for his father and friend. The emotion allows him to reflect and have compassion for Priam. Although Achilles agrees to give back Hector stating, "my own minds made up to give you back your son" (24.657). Achilles still demands more and is not willing to spare Troy. At this point, we can recognize his compassion’s rehabilitation. Of course, the revitalization of his compassion is not complete because Patroclus represented some forms of Achilles. In consequence, with the death of Patroclus also comes the death of fragmentations of his compassion.
This is Achilles tragedy. Achilles attributes make him a worthy character. Nevertheless, Achilles passion is his fault. This fault leads him down a path of destruction and a loss of compassion. Towards the end of the Iliad, we begin to understand the consequences of war. In the introduction, Knox explains there is no escape from the suffering of war, writing, "The equality of men of war, all of whom must face [a] violent death" (Knox. 37). Homer describes Priam having to "put to my lips the hand of the man who killed my son" (24.591). Priam had to plead Achilles for his son's body. After Patroclus's death, Achilles is "weeping uncontrollably" (18.36). Even then, the Achaeans and Trojans are equal in the aspects of heartache. The women and children behind the gates of the Trojan wall are "Mourning, and warm tears came streaming down their cheeks" (24.932). They too have felt the agony of war. This illustrates the effect of war, which outweighs the benefits. Both sides feel the consequences of war. Although they are different, when exposed to war, they are facing the same struggles of death, trauma, and grief. In the end, they are no different from their enemies.
