What Is Achilles A Hero

Is Achilles a hero or not a hero is the big question asked. Achilles is the major protagonist/antagonist of the story. It all starts with the fight with Agamemnon and his withdrawal from their battle together, to Patroclus’s death, and finally Hector’s slaying. Achilles wrath decided the fate of many Trojan and Greek warriors. Although the reputation of Achilles claims him to be the perfect warrior, strongest of the Greeks, the poem spends more time on the man than on his reputation.

Achilles wrath affects another person by the name of Priam.Once Priam hears how Achilles has Hector’s dead corpse he decides to beg and pay a ransom for the body. Priam is so desperate to retrieve Hector’s body that he ends up begging on his knees in front of Achilles. Achilles’ anger over Patroclus’ death brought Priam to the point where he turned a king into a beggar. Achilles then agreed to Priam’s request, which leads on to show more of Achilles’ influence in that he was able to stop an entire war for twelve days.

Through Achilles pride, fear, and …show more content…
At the time of the falling out, Achilles is not concerned for the fate of the Greeks, but for himself and his grudge with Agamemnon. Such is shown when he tells Agamemnon: “My honors never equal yours, whenever we sack some wealthy Trojan stronghold-my arms bear the brunt of the raw, savage fighting, true, but when it comes to dividing up the plunder the lion’s share is yours, and back I go (Iliad 1 193.).”
Through Achilles pride, fear, and anger, the wrath of Achilles has been able to force an entire army to beg for his help, invoke fear into one of the greatest Trojan heroes, and belittle a Trojan king. So the question is, is Achilles a hero? Well most people would argue or have mixed conversations about that but based off the reading he could be considered a Hero/Not