The Role Of Achilles In The Trojan War

The hero, Achilles, is faced with many problems during the Trojan War to his dismay. Achilles particularly faces a dilemma where he must make an important decision that will affect his life. Should Achilles decide to choose one decision then he will have an early death. However, should Achilles decide to choose the other decision then he will have a life without glory and battle. Achilles must now choose whether or not he should join the Trojan War. Achilles, now faced with a dilemma, must make a decision and think of what the outcomes and consequences would be. One of Achilles decisions is participating in the war against the Trojans. However, the dilemma for Achilles here is that he wishes not to help Agamemnon due to his earlier actions. Agamemnon has, more or less, taken Achilles glory from him by taking his war prize and making him look incompetent at being a glorified warrior (Iliad, Book I: 190-194). This action enrages Achilles and makes him withdraw from Trojan War temporarily. Achilles has also asked Thetis to influence Zeus to give the Trojans an edge against Agamemnon and his forces. Agamemnon is now fighting a difficult battle and requests that Achilles aids him in the Trojan War, to which Achilles declines. Achilles other decision is to not join the war at …show more content…
Achilles had not only the social responsibility of protecting his warriors and his best friend Patroclus, but also the personal responsibility of seeing his own life through. His new responsibility became to avenge the death of Patroclus and hopefully put an end to the Trojan War itself. Achilles was able to return to the Trojan War but not of his own free will. Achilles was given reason to come back to the Trojan War as he wanted to give the death of Patroclus’s killer himself. Overall, Achilles was not only faced with a Dilemma but also an impacting tragedy due to the decisions he