Bernardo Uribe

English character: The Iliad

9/10/98

Achilles

Achilles was the bravest, strongest and most feared of the achian soldier, but pride and desire for revenge would be of a very high expense. With his help victory for the Greek army could have been easier, but instead he not only laid aside of battle, but he plead the gods that his own army loses. His revenge against Agamemnon cost him his honor, the death of his best friend Patroclus, and in the long run, his death.

When Agamemnon sends for Briseis, because he had to give away Cryseis, Achilles shows great wisdom by withdrawing himself and all his troops of battle, but giving away the girl without any difficulty. By not fighting, he shows that he has honor, and that he cannot be taken for granted, but he still gives the girl away without battle, showing that he wont let his pride turn him against his own army.

A little later than Achilles had been separated from Braises, he goes against all of this achievements, and asks his mother Thetas for help. He requests his mother to influence with Zeus, so that the Trojans defeat his fellow Greek soldiers a point they will require his help and realize what he is really worth to them. By requesting this from his mother, Achilles shows that his hunger for revenge is grater as time goes by. As Achilles hunger for revenge grows bigger he lets his principals get less in the way of his personal satisfaction. "All these nights I am absent from your side, and not demanded back; you delay and your anger is slow." [Briseis to Achilles]

With time Achilles plan works, and Agamemnon comes to him for help, offering him to give him many valuable presents and to return to him Briseis to make up for his mistake, but Achilles doesn't accept this claming that he cannot be bought or sold. By the time Agamemnon decides to respond to Achilles requests, Achilles' hunger for revenge had grown big enough that he won't be satisfied until he sees the complete downfall of Agamemnon. Which is compleatly unreseanoble, becouse he is going aginst his own troops with the only pupose of revenging his injured pride.

The only way Achilles understood that his revenge was killing his own people, was when his best friend Patroclus, was already dead. Even though he tried to revenge him, it was to late, his lousy attitude had killed Patroclus.