The Use of Second Person in “Patroclus Fights and Dies” Homer’s The Iliad chronicles Achilles’ life during a small section of the Trojan war. In Book 16, “Patroclus Fights and Dies,” Homer uses the phrase “O my rider” to highlight the path Achilles’ good friend and comrade, Patroclus, takes that leads towards his death. In addition, this, and the use of second person are used to draw readers into the action in the chapter.
The word “rider” can take on several different meanings depending on how it is interpreted. In a literal sense, the word “rider” is synonymous with the word “knight,” or “soldier.” The first time it is used, Patroclus explains to Achilles that he will don his armor and fight with the Achaeans since Achilles refuses to
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Each time the word “rider” is used in the chapter, Patroclus is in some way interacting with, or talking about death. Shortly after Patroclus uses the phrase, “O my rider,” for the first time, Patroclus explains to Achilles that the Achaeans are dying in battle. “Our former champions . . . are all hit by arrows or run through my spears,” (16.26-27). This marks his first interaction with death as mere observation. He looks at the death of the Achaeans through the eyes of a person who is safe from harm. He has not yet experienced it first hand, in this chapter at least.
It is next used after Patroclus’ comrade, Epigeus, is killed by Hector, and Patroclus enacts revenge by killing Trojan allies Sarpedon and Sthenelaus. “. . . straight at the Lycians, Patroclus O my rider, straight at the pressing Trojans ranks you swooped, enraged at your comrade’s death!” (16.682-84). Patroclus has gone from witnessing the death of his allies to taking revenge on the Trojans. In a loose sense, he can be viewed as slowly becoming death itself, both as a cause of death and eventually literally dying by the end of the
When Patroclus asked Achilles for his armor, Achilles finally sided with Patroclus after a great deal of pondering because he wanted revenge over Agamemnon. In the armor of Achilles, Patroclus was killed by Hector. When he learned of the death of Patroclus, he would kill Hector knowing that it would lead to his own death. Achilles went back into war knowing he would go against his mother’s wishes. When the news of Hector’s death reached King Priam, he asked for the body of his Son of Achilles. The body was returned out of understanding the pain of losing a son. But in the end, that was the plan that finally destroyed the City of
Patroclus’ death leaves Achilles heartbroken and he is forced to go into battle in order to get his revenge and does so killing Hector, “When Achilles hears that Patroclus is dead because of his own stubborn anger toward Agamemnon, he is maddened with grief. He thinks only of revenge” (534). The poem ends with Hector’s funeral, “”And so they buried horse-taming Hector,”” reads the last line of the Iliad” (537). There are also elements from Homer’s other great epic poem, the Odyssey, that are present in Lucas’ film, A New Hope. The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus return home after the Trojan War and the obstacles he faces on his journey that keep delaying his trip home. Both of these epic poems have similarities with the main characters and events that happen in Lucas’ film such as Han Solo and Achilles, and Luke Skywalker and Odysseus.
While Phoenix and Meleager seemed to have issues with their respective parents, Achilles has none of the same issues. Achilles has a loving mother as well as a father and Phoenix, a father figure. Achilles and Phoenix are so close that Phoenix claims, “I made you what you are, my godlike Achilles, And loved you from my heart” (Homer’s Iliad 9.498-499). In contrast, the relationships depicted through Phoenix’s story are filled with rage and promises of death. The importance of structuring symmetrical relationships when invoking an emotional argument is imperative, and this paradigm fails to pick appropriate examples. Though Achilles may feel pity, he isn’t able to wholeheartedly empathize with the narrative laid before him. Without empathy, there can be no universal bonds in which others can be held accountable for each other. The dearth of empathetic material in Phoenix’s speech is largely proportional to Achilles’ acute refusal as well as a broader representation of the tragedy of the Trojan war on the
The subject of Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad, is very clearly stated--it is “the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles.” The reader remains continually aware of the extent of Achilles’ rage, yet is never told the reason why Achilles remains angry and unreconciled. There is no definitive answer to this question. Achilles is not a static character. He is constantly changing; thus the question of why he remains angry solicits different answers at various stages throughout the poem. To find an answer, the reader must carefully examine Achilles’ ever-changing dilemma involving the concepts of mortality and honor. At its simplest, Achilles’ dilemma is that if he goes to war, he will die. But he will die with glory.
Throughout the Iliad the warriors' dream of peace is projected over and over again in elaborate similes developed against a background of violence and death. Homer is able to balance the celebration of war's tragic, heroic values with scenes of battle and those creative values of civilized life that war destroys. The shield of Achilles symbolically represents the two poles of human condition, war and peace, with their corresponding aspects of human nature, the destructive and creative, which are implicit in every situation and statement of the poem and are put before us in something approaching abstract form; its emblem is an image of human life as a whole.
Achilles’ behavior starts out with arete, or someone’s great qualities. Achilles is a highly gifted warrior who is a combination of strength, skill, courage, and determination. Achilles earned his prize of honor, Briseis, for being a great warrior and leader. Achilles explains, “my prize of honor, which I earned and which the Greeks gave to me”(129). Many people know Achilles for these qualities and look up to him for that reason. Later after Patroclus’ death, Achilles goes through the behavior cycle for the second time, starting with arete, summoning his anger and courage, and gets back on the battlefield. Achilles explains his reason for going back to war by saying, “I now ...
It is important to note that the Iliad is originally a poem told by many bards and storytellers; by using similes, Homer compliments the spoken word of the Iliad with a visual component. In certain scenes, Homer utilizes similes in the Greeks’ favor, elevating their battle prowess in comparison to the Trojans. Presented to a primarily Greek audience, Homer’s particularity in bolstering the Greek army plays to the bias of the audience––augmenting the atmosphere of the crowd. The implementation of similes throughout the epic is vital to the poem as it provides the Greek audience with a brief respite from the practically nonstop gore of
And let me strap on my shoulders that armor of yours. That the zealous Trojans take me for you and quickly Withdraw from the fight." Because Achilles refused to help the Achaeans battle the Trojans, a discontented Patroclus took the matter into his own hands by requesting activation into battle disguised as Achilles in the hope of sending the Trojans. into a full retreat from the sight of him. It is apparent that Patroclus was willing to fight, although the odds were greatly against him.
Achilles agreed that Patrokolos should wear his armor into battle, this decision along with the fact Achilles was no longer fighting, ultimately caused Patrokolos’ death. When Patrokolos died at the hands of Hektor, two things happened. First, being distraught over his friend’s death, Achilles feels responsible/ Guilt ensues but is channeled to more anger. Hektor, the slayer of Patrokolos now becomes the target of Achilles rage. Achilles is ready to fight, but more accurately ready for revenge. Achilles said, “I will not live nor go about among mankind unless Hektor fall by my spear, and thus pay me for having slain Patrokolos son of Menoetius,” (The Iliad, Chapter 18, Lines 89-91). When Achilles decided to fight, the fate of Hektor was already decided. Also, because he decided to fight, many more Trojans died. His fury with all of Troy was unleashed. Achilles killed and killed. The carnage was
“ My Hector. It is for him I have come to the Greek ships, to get him back from you. I’ve brought a fortune in ransom. Respect the gods, Achilles. Think of your own father, and pity me. I am more pitiable. I have born what no man who has walked this earth has ever yet borne. I have kissed the hand of the man who killed my son” ( Book 2...
Simone Weil argues that the way Homer presents war and the use of force in the Iliad, in all of its brutality, violence, and bitterness bathes the work in the light of love and justice (pg 25). The point Weil is making is that by depicting the suffering of all of these men regardless of their side, or strength Homer equalizes them in a “condition common to all men”(pg 25). Because Homer equalizes them the reader can feel empathy, or at least compassion for all of the men. However while Weil is correct about how Homer’s descriptions of war and force reveal justice and love, she is wrong in thinking that justice and love are mere “accents” to the Iliad, and progress through the story “without ever becoming noticeable”(pg 25). Homer not only reveals this underlying idea to the reader through his tone and even handedness, but also through Achilles’ journey. By the end of the Iliad Achilles understands justice and love in much the same way that the reader does.
The Iliad may be seen as an account of the circumstances that irrevocably alter the life of one man: Achilles, one of the greatest warriors. Throughout the course of the poem Achilles goes through many ordeals that change his character immensely. Starting with his quarrel with Agamemnon and withdrawal from battle, to the death of Patroklos, and with the slaying of Hektor. Achilles emotions and actions decide the fate of many warriors on both sides. Achilles struggles with anger, honor, pride, loyalty and love make the poem more that just a gruesome war story.
First off, Achilles talks about how sad he is about the death of Patroclus. Achilles groaned and answered, 'Mother, Olympian Zeus has indeed vouchsafed me the fulfillment of my prayer, but what pleasure is it to me, seeing that my dear comrade Patroclus has fallen—he whom I valued more than all others, and loved as dearly as my own life?
...h Agamemnon and wishes that ‘strife could die from the lives of gods and men’… Not to avenge Patroclus by killing Hector would be a renunciation of all that he stands for and has lived by”. Even though “sorrow fell on Achilles like a cloud” (216), he went back out to the battlefield and killed Hector. It took a great deal of bravery for Achilles to face the man who killed his best friend but Achilles, being the hero that he was, got back into battle and killed him because he couldn’t let Patroclus’ death go unavenged.
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