The Wrath of Achilles

The Wrath of Achilles

The Wrath of Achilles

The classic ancient greek epic poem, The Iliad, attributed to well known poet Homer, is among some of the oldest works of literature that has been translated and still presently studied today. The epic, set during the ten year Trojan War, reveals many aspects of the ancient Greek culture while telling the story of the series of events that occurred during a vendetta between Greek star warrior Achilles and the Greek King Agamemnon. The central focus and main theme in The Iliad is depicted through Homers main heroic character, Achilles, and his wrath. Achilles wrath ultimately causes, influences, and determines the events leading up to and the outcome of the Trojan war---his wrath controls the actions of the entire poem. In this paper, I will provide examples of how Homer focuses not so much on the war, but rather the growth and development of an individual character through giving examples and analyzing the actions of his main character Achilles.
Throughout the epic, Achilles’ intense characteristics, actions, and reactions to people and events reveal he is a man of extremes. The poem’s first line starts, “Rage: Sing, Goddess, Achilles’ rage, Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks Incalculable pain, pitched countless souls of heroes into Hades’ dark, And left their bodies to rot as feast For dogs and birds, as Zeus; will was done” (Homer 1). The first word “rage” depicts that the story will heed its self with Achilles and his rage as one of its main aspects. This rage is first reveled and most clearly portrayed through Achilles argument with Agamemnon at the start of the poem. His wrath for Agamemnon beings when Achilles asks him to return captured maiden Chryses because the God of Apollo has sent plagues on the Greeks as punishment, and he refuses. Agamemnon then agree’s to return Chryses, but only in exchange for Achilles maiden, Briseis. Achilles, infuriated at the suggestion, threatens to withdraw from fighting in any battles...

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