Reading Notes: The Iliad Part A

 

 

Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus
Source: Wikipedia

Homer's Iliad by A.J. Church
Link: here

The swearing of the Greek suitors coming together for the husband Helen chooses. Paris stealing her and treasures too. No mention of the apple, or why Aphrodite is for the Trojans and Athena and Hera are for the Greeks (which was influenced by this slight). All star cast like an Avengers movie -- Diomed, Ajax the Greater, Ajax the Less, Nestor, Ulysses, Achilles, and Patroclus.

Agamemnon's pride upon being forced to return the daughter of a priest of Apollo. Bad idea to cross the gods, and this includes those who represent them. Apollo caused deaths among animals and men. Now Agamemnon's pride takes a big hit. He has to give back the girl, no additional money, and a hundred beasts as sacrifice. Achilles and Agamemnon's famous spat. Achilles despite being younger didn't hold back. Called him a coward. As the spokesperson he was the one who had to give up Briseis. A clear attempt to put Achilles in his place, who Agamemnon didn't like because he was already threatened by.

"Drunkard with the eyes of a dog and the heart of a deer ..."

THIS INSULT.

Agamemnon stubborn and wants Achilles put in his place. Now Achilles asks his mother to make the Greeks suffer so they'll feel his loss from the battlefield even stronger. Thetis manages to guilt Zeus into agreeing to help the Trojans even more than he's already done. Hera calls him out for it, and the dialogue shows Zeus and Hera's terrible relationship. He's demeaning and threatening. Also hearing how he treats his family with Hephaestus' words -- Zeus is the worst. Lots of bad blood. Also the usage of dreams to manipulate mortals.

Hector was noble and good. A foil to Achilles, who was an amazing hero but young and brash and selfish. The difficulty and complications of war not having a clear villain, both sides having good in them. Paris in contrast is a pale shadow of his brother. Hiding from the fight despite him being the cause. Andromache is one of the most pitiful characters. A woman in a foreign land who stands to lose everything if she loses one man. A sad soft moment between their small family.

Ulysses attempts to assuage with his silver tongue, but Achilles is too angry, too proud. All of  Agamemnon's offered honors are spat upon. This conversation point is a crossroads of Achilles' prophecy -- glory and a young death, or a long life and mediocrity. Achilles could have lived. But Patroclus overreached. He went to take the city. His pride cost him and Apollo set the stage for his death, and Achilles' as well.