Natasha Moore
English 2332-878
Professor Brooks
27 October 2016
Achilles’ Dilemma in The Iliad
In Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, Achilles, the son of Peleus and the sea nymph
Thetis, was faced with a major life or death decision. His mother, Thetis, had predicted
that Achilles was going to live a short life and most likely die at a young age. Therefore,
Thetis keeps her son from the war because she knows that it is his destiny to die in
Troy. Odysseus found Achilles and took him to the Greek camp to prepare for the War
(Hamilton 251-252). For nine years, victory wavered; however, when an argument
ignited between Achilles and Agamemnon, it gives the Trojans the advantage.
Agamemnon dishonors Achilles by taking his prize, Briseis, leaving him angry and
causing him to leave the war (Hamilton 254-255). After leaving the Greek camp, Achilles
prays to his mother, asking her to call in the debt that Zeus owed her. He wanted her to
ask Zeus to help the Trojans win the war so that the Greeks would see Agamemnon as
a fool for not honoring the Greek champion (The Iliad, Book 1: 198-199). After the great
defeat of the Greeks, Agamemnon sends Odysseus to return Briseis to Achilles, and
offer him gifts as a way of apologizing. Achilles refuses the offer; however, his dearest
friend, Patroclus, could not stay away and watch the Greeks lose any longer. Patroclus,
asks Achilles for his armor so he could help the Greeks in the war. Patroclus’ plan is to
trick the Greeks into believing he is Achilles by wearing his armor (Hamilton 260-262).
Patroclus’ plan works until he is killed by the hands of Hector and Apollo. As Achilles
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waited for his friend’s return, Antiochus came instead to deliver the bad news to
Achilles, which upset him. “The sound of Achilles’ grief stung the air” (The Iliad, Book
18: 38). Achilles was so distraught and remorseful over his friend’s death that he
wanted to take his own life, but his grieving soon turned into rage. The Greek champion,
who knew if he fought in the war that he would be killed, faced a dilemma that would
determine his fate. Achilles had the option to avenge his friend by fighting in the war and
killing Hector, knowing that he was destined to die after Hector’s death, or to continue to
refrain from the war and live a long life with the regret of not avenging Patroclus; he
chose to fight in his friend’s honor.
Enraged by his friend’s death, Achilles ended his refusal to fight and engaged in
the war in order to seek revenge. Achilles realized the harm that his own pride and
