Patroclus Character Analysis

In the Iliad, Patroclus stepped up and took over Achilles position in battle; he died for Achilles and revealed the true hero in himself. Patroclus, “lost in his own great innocence … condemned to beg for his own death and brutal doom” (16.54,55). He had such courage and bravery to take upon this high responsibility. Achilles even directs Patroclus to “take this command to heart—obey it to the end” so that Patroclus could win glory for him. (16.96). Achilles decides if he sends out Patroclus then he will receive glory for his acts. Patroclus showed a tremendous amount of bravery and boldness in the battle Achilles was supposed to fight in. That battle led to his heroic death. . Patroclus was like Achilles and had a superhuman nature to him

Because Patroclus stepped up and took over Achilles position, dying for Achilles revealed the true hero in Patroclus. He begged “for his own death and brutal doom” (16.55). Patroclus was so determined to take upon Achilles responsibility he lost sight of his own life. His bravery caught up with his confidence; every war contains losses and sacrifices. Homer clearly has a redundant pattern of characters seeking glory no matter the cost. Some are successful and some are not. The fear of “suffering such humiliation”, kept Achilles and Patroclus in constant fight for splendor and rightoueness. He yearns to have the glory of his good friend and hopes that he can achieve this honor by wearing Achilles armor of “gleaming bronze… well-made greaves… breastplate round his chest, blazoned with stars”, Patroclus “slung the sword, / the fine bronze blade with its silver-studded hilt… and over his powerful head he set the well-forged helmet” (16.156,157,158,159,160,164). Homer descriptively details the armor of Achilles to show the importance of this scene. Despite Achilles warnings of what risks the armor could bear, he selfishly thinks of himself and allows Patroclus to wear the protective furnishing and go out into battle. Achilles only worries about “when one man attempts to plunder a man of his equal, / to commander a prize, exulting so in his power. / that’s the pain that wounds [him], suffering such humiliation” (16.61-63). He would send out his own best friend to sacrifice