Reading Notes: Part B for Week 3: The Iliad - The Rousing of Achilles (cont.)
For the second part of this week's reading, I chose to focus primarily on the continuation of the Rousing of Achilles. I appreciated the story's exploration of the grief and remorse felt by Achilles for his friend.
As the slain body of Patronclus lies in the ground, the Trojans and Greeks continue to fight over the body. The Trojans fail to carry away the body, and the Greeks fail to save it. The Greek chiefs, desperate to save the body of Patronclus of an honorable burial, sent a messenger to inform Achilles of the unfortunate fate of his dearly beloved friend.
Achilles, struck with sadness and overwhelming grief, threw himself on the ground. He was devastated, for he had sent his beloved friend into battle. His own anger and repose for King Agamemnon had clouted his will to fight. As such, his friend has perished and his body lay stiff and lifeless on the battlefield with both sides fighting over the spoils.
Feeling his immense emotional outburst, Achilles' mother comforts him with hope that Achilles will be given new armor so that he charge into battle the next day. With the Trojans gaining ground on the Greeks, Zeus sends Iris to Achilles with the message to rouse himself less the body of Patronclus falls into the grasp of the Trojans.
Achilles, desperate to save the body of his dear friend, runs to the trench. With no armor but with a strong determination, he emerges from the trench and shouts aloud. His voice rang across the battlefield, striking fear into the hearts of the men of Troy and driving them back toward the city walls.
The Trojans fell back, and the Greeks were able to recover the body of Patronclus, returning him to the tent of Achilles. Overwhelmed with sadness, Achilles wept by the side of his friend, whom he has sworn to avenge.
This story captures the raw emotional state of Achilles after he discovers that the man he loved most was slain by Hector. He feels remorse for letting his anger toward King Agamemnon prevent him from protecting whom he loved most on the battlefield. The story demonstrates the love that Achilles felt for Patronclus by him charging into battle with no armor on, for his armor he had given to Patronclus. I appreciate how this story uncovers more of the inner feelings of Achilles and how that shapes his actions.
Bibliography: The Rousing of Achilles (cont.) from the Iliad retold by Alfred J. Church (1907)
As the slain body of Patronclus lies in the ground, the Trojans and Greeks continue to fight over the body. The Trojans fail to carry away the body, and the Greeks fail to save it. The Greek chiefs, desperate to save the body of Patronclus of an honorable burial, sent a messenger to inform Achilles of the unfortunate fate of his dearly beloved friend.
Achilles, struck with sadness and overwhelming grief, threw himself on the ground. He was devastated, for he had sent his beloved friend into battle. His own anger and repose for King Agamemnon had clouted his will to fight. As such, his friend has perished and his body lay stiff and lifeless on the battlefield with both sides fighting over the spoils.
Feeling his immense emotional outburst, Achilles' mother comforts him with hope that Achilles will be given new armor so that he charge into battle the next day. With the Trojans gaining ground on the Greeks, Zeus sends Iris to Achilles with the message to rouse himself less the body of Patronclus falls into the grasp of the Trojans.
Achilles, desperate to save the body of his dear friend, runs to the trench. With no armor but with a strong determination, he emerges from the trench and shouts aloud. His voice rang across the battlefield, striking fear into the hearts of the men of Troy and driving them back toward the city walls.
The Trojans fell back, and the Greeks were able to recover the body of Patronclus, returning him to the tent of Achilles. Overwhelmed with sadness, Achilles wept by the side of his friend, whom he has sworn to avenge.
This story captures the raw emotional state of Achilles after he discovers that the man he loved most was slain by Hector. He feels remorse for letting his anger toward King Agamemnon prevent him from protecting whom he loved most on the battlefield. The story demonstrates the love that Achilles felt for Patronclus by him charging into battle with no armor on, for his armor he had given to Patronclus. I appreciate how this story uncovers more of the inner feelings of Achilles and how that shapes his actions.
Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patronclus - Courtesy of WikiMedia
Bibliography: The Rousing of Achilles (cont.) from the Iliad retold by Alfred J. Church (1907)
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