Character Analysis Of Achilles In The Iliad

In the Iliad, we are introduced to many great warriors, kings, women, and gods. Of all these characters, Achilles is the greatest and most complex figure to appear in the story. He was the most physically capable Greek at the time and feared all across the Aegean. On the other hand, he is plagued with numerous character flaws that may prevent readers from recognizing him as a true hero. Despite these flaws, Achilles manages to retain the attention and interest of the reader. Throughout the entirety of the Iliad, we see Achilles transform into a character with which we can empathize.
Throughout the Iliad, Achilles is known as the fiercest warrior in all of Greece by every character, including the Greek king, Agamemnon. He is described by Homer as “swift footed” and “god like” on numerous occasions in order to emphasize his physical abilities. He was most likely an extraordinarily agile and strong fighter able to easily outmaneuver or overpower any opposition on the battlefield. Not only was he ‘god like’, he was in fact a …show more content…
Here we see an Achilles who is torn between his fear of death and his desire for glory. Despite his thirst for fighting, Homer shows us a small glimpses of Achilles’ humanity through this scene in the Iliad. His emotions grow as we see that Patroclus’ death weighs on Achilles and he feels pain like he’s never experienced. He even blames himself for his friend’s death saying, “my dearest friend of all. I loved him, and I killed him.” By saying Homer reveals that Achilles is maturing in front of us by admitting that he was wrong to retreat from battle while his countrymen fought on. He also gives Hector’s body back to the grieving Priam as penance out of respect for both the Trojan king and prince. Achilles acknowledging his wrong actions clashes with the personality he paraded in previous books. He is unveiling his humanity through emotions like misery and