Achilles In The Iliad

Achilles is depicted as a violent, self-centered and consistent character throughout The Iliad. Although he keeps these features through most of the epic, he develops new characteristics to his personality as well, causing him to act differently than from how readers think he would toward the final scenes of the book. Achilles is able to be a vengeful and assaulting warrior whilst also obtaining feelings of sympathy, compassion, and equitability by the end of The Iliad.
Achilles proves his feelings of sensitivity yet remains violent by returning to the war on behalf of Patroclus. In Book 18, Achilles is notified of the death of his best friend and is immediately fueled by anger to beat down upon Hector, the one who killed Patroclus. Achilles understands how powerful Hector is; nevertheless, he chooses to go out and kill him and if not, die fighting. After sorrowing over the loss of Patroclus, Achilles states, “But now I’ll go and meet that murderer head-on, that Hector who destroyed the dearest life I know. For my own …show more content…
The symbolism behind this action is showing disrespect to Hector even after death, meaning his life had no worth so he does not deserve to be honored in the afterlife. When King Priam approaches Achilles’ gates, begging for his son’s body to be returned, Achilles surprisingly feels empathy and remorse when he is reminded to think of the love between him and his own father, Peleus. He gives the body back and accepts the ransom, as well as saying, “Tell me, be precise about it-- how many days do you need to bury Prince Hector? I will hold back myself and keep the Argive armies back that long” (24.771-774). Achilles has proven that he can be aggressive and appalling towards Hector but shows his father respect and sympathy when returning the body because he knows his father would do the same if he were the one