It is in David Malouf 's fictional novel “Ransom” where you will experience the emotions felt during a great tragedy and mourning experienced by two families who are more alike then they 'd expect. Malouf has recreated the epic tale of the Trojan war during the last section of Homer’s Iliad, through his poetic and creative style of writing, the author successfully sets the mood of the tale. Achilles, one of the greatest warriors of the Greeks finds himself in a downward spiral as the death of Patroclus is beyond devastating and tries to find comfort in avenging his friend by killing Hector, but still consumed by grief, finds little ease in dragging the motionless body at the back of his chariot around the walls of Troy for all of Hector 's
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The heart ache and loss felt by the characters is what connects them all spiritually, despite their different roles in society. When Achilles looses his close companion Patroclus, the once strong and immortal warrior suddenly becomes emotionally weakened and greatly defeated by death. Similarly Priam feels the same, when also losing his son Hector. In the result of Achilles being affected by his grief, his actions become fuelled by hatred and anger as he has lost complete control of his emotions, whereas Priam, in a time of such pain and sorrow, finds that his emotions take him to a higher level above his materialistic world and allow him to make a clear decision as a father and how he can ransom back his son. When the two meet, Achilles releases the similarity between himself and Priam, and sees that being a father is just as important to either of …show more content…
Balius and Xanthous are his two immortal horses who showed strength and power during the eleven days of dragging Hectors corpse. Patroclus was adopted of by Peleus, after having brought shame to his biological family and over time became very close to Achilles, it is even described that the two “mated” page.15 in the sense that their souls had become one and they were each others missing half’s, and were now united by God in their brotherly relationship. Although a father himself, Achilles leaves his son Neoptolemus with his father to take care of, while he away fighting at
The heart ache and loss felt by the characters is what connects them all spiritually, despite their different roles in society. When Achilles looses his close companion Patroclus, the once strong and immortal warrior suddenly becomes emotionally weakened and greatly defeated by death. Similarly Priam feels the same, when also losing his son Hector. In the result of Achilles being affected by his grief, his actions become fuelled by hatred and anger as he has lost complete control of his emotions, whereas Priam, in a time of such pain and sorrow, finds that his emotions take him to a higher level above his materialistic world and allow him to make a clear decision as a father and how he can ransom back his son. When the two meet, Achilles releases the similarity between himself and Priam, and sees that being a father is just as important to either of …show more content…
Balius and Xanthous are his two immortal horses who showed strength and power during the eleven days of dragging Hectors corpse. Patroclus was adopted of by Peleus, after having brought shame to his biological family and over time became very close to Achilles, it is even described that the two “mated” page.15 in the sense that their souls had become one and they were each others missing half’s, and were now united by God in their brotherly relationship. Although a father himself, Achilles leaves his son Neoptolemus with his father to take care of, while he away fighting at