Iliad17:119. Ajax knew the hand
of the gods in this,
2CB22.1, Class-mate mateuszkulesza says “While both Meleagros and Achilles share lots of similarities, the circumstances of each hero's actions make a decisive difference in how the story would be interpreted. Achilles, insulted by Agamemnon, chooses not to fight on the offensive. Meleaos, however, choses not to help DEFEND his people from the attackers. It is this distinction that, in my mind, justifies the actions of Achilles but makes those of Meleagros shameful. Agamemnon had to power to save the lives of all his men by simply going home. The attack of Meleagros' city, however, could not have been ended by a simple retreat. Meleagros, therefore, had the DUTY of absorbing his pride and taking action, Achilles only had that as an OPTION.”
2CB22.1, Class-mate mateuszkulesza says “While both Meleagros and Achilles share lots of similarities, the circumstances of each hero's actions make a decisive difference in how the story would be interpreted. Achilles, insulted by Agamemnon, chooses not to fight on the offensive. Meleaos, however, choses not to help DEFEND his people from the attackers. It is this distinction that, in my mind, justifies the actions of Achilles but makes those of Meleagros shameful. Agamemnon had to power to save the lives of all his men by simply going home. The attack of Meleagros' city, however, could not have been ended by a simple retreat. Meleagros, therefore, had the DUTY of absorbing his pride and taking action, Achilles only had that as an OPTION.”
It would be perfectly OK if Achilles had just stopped fighting.
ReplyDeleteHowever, he did something more. He negotiated divine help for the enemy, knowing that this would bring many wanton deaths, just to make Agamemnon and other Greeks respect him as a warrior.
Imagine a doctor who sees that people do not value his services as they used to and, to reverse the trend, manages the city to be sprinkled with anthrax!
So I wonder how any reader of the Iliad could find Achilles' behavior justified. Many of his comrades do so, at least until he rejects the proposed ransom, but they do not know what the reader knows - of Achilles' secret talks with his mom.
Maya, As usual you make a valid comment. Achilles treatment of his fellow Greeks, is just terrible.
ReplyDeleteBut, we don't love him because he is rational.
The glory of Achilles is that he manifests that craving in our collective subconscious "To make the bastards pay!" He represents everyone of us who have been publicly and outrageously wrongs and no one rose to our defense. It's Demeter who puts on her blackest veil. Humanity never wrong her, but we were all going to starve to death and the sacrifices to the gods dwindle, unless she gets her daughter back! They fulfill that dream we've all had at some point about our oppressors.
Plus, it makes great drama!
It would be interesting to hear the story of the calm rational Achilles who returned to Phthia and lived to a rip old age in ease and comfort. Oh wait, that Achilles doesn't have an epic, no one ever sang about that guy.