The Iliad

So I just finished reading the Iliad. The reason I started reading it was to see primarily if I could, which sounds idiotic but is the truth as I am an idiotic person. At first, I was extraordinarily confused and had to jot things down I didn't understand (mostly how Homer used the terms Danaans and Achaeans synonymously when they were really the Greeks) but as I got used to the style I actually got into the story. This is probably because I've obsessed with Greek mythology since infanthood, when I was given my first copy of the D'Aulaires book of Greek myths. So overall, I really liked the book (is it even a book? should I call it an epic or something?) but thought that Achilles was an awful character.

I liked that he was horrid and unsympathetic-- that, in addition the the poetic writing, is what makes the Iliad so unique-- but I feel like you have to like your protagonist at least a little bit. Honestly, at the end I wanted Hector to win and then Zeus to kill them all. There really weren't any characters I was fond of. I am not as sympathetic to characters that are glory- seeking and obsessed with war, and I feel like any characters that aren't like this are portrayed as cowardly (i.e. Paris.) The girls are all useless, and the men you’re supposed to support are all in love with blood. You really have to go along with the war themes-- which I did-- for it to work.

Now, my first major problem with Achilles is his pride. I get that he's a super powered warrior with connections to the Gods-- but honestly? He's angry perfectly righteously because the king has literally stolen his girlfriend (but might I mention that Achilles stole her from her home in the first place) so he makes his soft, irritating and servile mother ask Zeus to make the opposite side in their war win as revenge. To spite the king Agamemnon, but really just to fix his own bruised ego, he will condemn all his friends and comrades to death. Later, when he rejoins the battle, after letting his friend die in his place, he wins (obviously) but acts horrible about it and drags around his ex- adversary’s body around and won’t give the corpse to the poor guy’s dad. It is only after the father appeals to the memory of Achilles’ own father that he concedes. I personally think that this is not an example of strength of character by Achilles, but pity because he can empathize with losing someone.

This leads to my next problem with Achilles, which is his complete LACK OF DEVELOPMENT throughout the story. I know this is a charcteristic of Homer writings, but in this case at least I thought Achilles would change. When I started this book I thought that this was the whole point-- evolving (from an insolent brat who kills mercilessly but runs to his mother over a stolen slave) to a mature and merciful warrior. I was mistaken, though, because Achilles learns nothing throughout the book, though the readers do.  Achilles is shallowly angry at Agamemnon the entire time and cannot let go.  Even when he rejoins Agamemnon he still hasn't learned to let go and still angry. This time, though, he focuses his anger on Hector, who he mauls and destroys. Maybe after the events of the story he learns something, is touched by Hector's father's care, changed by his friend's death, or something, but I'm not so sure. I hope, for my own sake as a curious reader, that he may become a little more bearable later on in his glorified life.