Achilles Quotes Analysis

Book 16 provides great examples on how the gods pick and choose their fights, and will use their power to do great deeds as well. At the beginning of the book, Patroclus, Achilles’ best friend, asks him for permission to lead the Myrmidons into battle. Achilles reluctantly lets him have that power, and gives him his armor, which is how the Trojans recognize Achilles. In battle, there are many incidents in which the gods are involved. Ajax, one of the Greek heroes, had a somewhat shocking realization after Hector had cut of the head of his pike when it says, “…here was the work of the gods, thundering Zeus on high, cutting him off from battle, dashing all his plans…” (416). Zeus had decided to make a quick switch-up things because he was “determined to grant the Trojans triumph now” (416).

Achilles said, “If you honored me last time and heard my prayer and rained destruction down on all of Achaea’s ranks, once more, I beg you, bring my prayer to pas! I myself hold out on shore with the beached ships here but I send my comrade forth to war with troops of Myrmidons- Launch glory with him, high lord of thunder, Zeus!” (420). Then, Zeus unleashes relentless rains onto the Trojans , and they rampage practically gasping for a breath, or any sign of leverage in the battle. In addition to that, “across the onslaught Zeus swept murderous night to make the pitched battle over his own dear son a brutal, blinding struggle” (431). Not only is he interfering with both sides now, he has chosen to be up against the side of his son, Sarpedon. During the large portion of the fighting, Glaucus calls upon Apollo to help himself in a time of pain (he was shot with an arrow), and in choosing to hear his prayer, Apollo is dragged into the