Free Essays - Changes in Achilles of The Iliad :: Iliad essays

Changes in Achilles of The Iliad There atomic number 18 times in my own life in which I wee that a intention that I nurse been pursuing rigorously is in reality not worth my time and effort, or that the way I have been pursuing that particular goal is not the most effective way. after I come to these realizations I find it helpful, if not necessary, to step pole and analyze the situation. This is what happened to Achilles throughout the first sixteen books of the epic. At first Achilles had a set of clearly defined goals, he was to fight side by side with the Achaeans, sack Troy, and, by doing these things, gain honor and wealth. As the fight progressed a series of events took place that forced Achilles to step out of the fight. dapple he was inactive and had time to contemplate, he came to the realization that he had been trash for nine years for the sake of a man whose woman has been stolen right off that his woman had been stolen no one fights for his sake. He also realizes that there atomic number 18 other, less risky ways of obtaining wealth and honor, including sending Patroklus out in his armor. Another thing he ponders on, but doesnt seem to usurp seriously, is whether or not honor is really worth the compete. All these changes of mind take place throughout book nine in which the embassy composed of Aias, Odysseus, and genus Phoenix visits Achilles. By the time the embassy arrived at his hut Achilles had been toying with the idea of go to his homeland and abandoning the struggle for wealth and honor. Because of the embassy Achilles mind was changed, probably due to a sense of camaraderie, and he decides to stay but fight only if the struggle reaches his own camp. At this height of the epic we see that Achilles is still genuinely much concerned with wealth and honor, the question now is how to accomplish his goal. Achilles is aware of a few things and this puts him at an advantage over the rest. He knows that he w ill at last be honored and that Agamemnons debt to him will eventually be paid he knows this because Athena had promised it to him if he didnt kill Agamemnon.