Who Is Agamemnon's Pride In The Iliad

One of the most interesting scenes in Book Nineteen of The Iliad is that which takes place between the two characters Agamemnon and Achilles. This scene, which takes place from approximately from lines 100 through 140, involves the resolution of the anger between these characters which was the result of their dispute over Briseis in Book One. This passage is important to the story, as Achilles is able to put aside his anger towards Agamemnon and return to the fighting, due to his desire to revenge Patroclus, as well as it demonstrates Agamemnon’s inability to surrender his pride. This is because Agamemnon blames his action of the stealing Achilles’ war-prize Briseis on Zeus and Fate rather than admitting his fault, which would only sully his pride. Therefore, this scene demonstrates Agamemnon’s lack of responsibility, concerning his …show more content…
At this point, Achilles had admitted that he was wrong for persisting in his rage, and had stated that they should let bygones be bygones, and yet Agamemnon still could not forget the matter until he had absolved himself from the culpability of such a rash and petty action, one for which Agamemnon states his men would “revile me in public” (19.100). Instead, Agamemnon denies accountability, saying that he was blinded by the gods as “a god impels all things to their fulfillment: Ruin, eldest daughter of Zeus, she blinds us all, that fatal madness” (19.106-108). Therefore, this passage from Book Nineteen of The Iliad depicts Agamemnon’s inability to accept the fault for insulting Achilles and causing his departure for the fighting, as well as the death and suffering this caused the Achaeans during his absence, thus demonstrating the depth of Agamemnon’s