Direct Characterization Of Achilles In The Iliad

Like an avalanche in the mountains change is inevitable and unstoppable. In the Iliad, by Homer, an epic/poem retelling the tale of the Trojan war, there was a bloody battle between Greece and Troy. One of the main characters is Achilles, an almost invincible Greek warrior. The author uses characterization to show Achilles experiences great change throughout the poem, from stubborn to devastated to avengement seeking, all because his good friend and comrade, Patroclus, was killed in battle.
Before Patroclus dies the author uses indirect characterization to describe Achilles as arrogant. The first time Achilles is indirectly portrayed as arrogant before Patroclus’ death is when Achilles is letting all of his comrades die. The text states ““I …show more content…
The first time the author indirectly describes Achilles as avengement seeking is when he calls for Hector. According to the text Achilles screamed ““HECTOR!”” This proves that Achilles is avengement seeking because he is searching for Hector to get avengement for him killing Patroclus. The second time Achilles is indirectly described as avengement seeking is when he chases Hector. Quoted from the text “Twice Achilles chased Hector around the city, then once more until Athena came to Achilles and told him it was time to stand and fight.” This indirectly exemplifies that Achilles is avengement seeking because he was so determined to get avengement he chased Hector around Troy 3 times. The final time after Patroclus’ death Achilles is shown as avengement seeking is when he dishonors Hector’s corpse. The text states “Achilles, to his shame, slit the flesh behind the dead man’s ankles, pulled a throng through them, and tied him behind his chariot.” He then drove the chariot around Troy 3 times. This proves that Achilles was vengeance seeking because he did not want Hector to be buried properly, instead he wanted his family drag his corpse around the