The Conflict In The Characters Of Agamemnon And Achilles

Register to read the introduction… Why Agamemnon gives the condition to Achilles that he will take Briseis, Achilles’ prize, in replacement if he is to give Chryseis back to her father? Conflict over Agamemnon and Achilles is discussed in Book 1 where fear of losing face and authority is recognized. Agamemnon sees himself as a great leader of all men; therefore, if he returns Chryseis to her father due to the plague and wrath set by Apollo, as requested by Chryses, without any ransom, he will lose his face. This fear of losing face and authority is bind with characteristic of heroic leader who is expected to be honored and obeyed by all of his subordinates. Moreover, to claim that he is higher, in position, than Achilles, Agamemnon not only refuses Achilles’ suggestions to return Chryseis, but also gives a hint that he is higher by claiming Briseis as a ransom for returning Chryseis. It could be claimed that fear of losing face in this very first of the Book is the important ground of all dreadful situations occurs in the rest of the whole Books of the Homer’s Iliad. Shown below is Agamemnon’s claim of his superior to the army in order to secure his authority and face in front of the army. “You are a great warrior, godlike Achilles, but don’t imagine you can trick me into that. I am not going to be outmanoeuvred or persuaded by you. “Give up the girl”, you say, in order to keep your own prize safe. Do you expect me to sit tamely …show more content…
We can see in many scenes that Agamemnon orders his men to return home. It is obvious that fear is in his mind. Fear of being loser in the war which is among the greatest fear for heroic warrior. As Agamemnon is wearing a cap of leader among all the Greeks, he must have been stronger than he is. He must not have his fear overcome his heart and order his men to sail back home like he does whenever his army seems to be lost. Example of Agamemnon’s fear is in Book 14 where Agamemnon advises his men to sail back home. Below is Agamemnon’s speech to Nestor. “Nestor, since the fighting has reached the sterns of ships, and neither the strong wall nor ditch that cost the Greeks so much effort has been of any use, though they looked on them as an impregnable defence for the ship and ourselves, then this, I suppose, is how almighty Zeus must want it to be – the Greeks destroyed here, far from Greece, with no trace left…” “So I suggest we all do what I now propose. Let’s drag down the ships that were drawn up next to the sea, launch them on the bright water and moor them well out, till night allows us to drag down all the rest – unless the Trojans go on fighting even then. There is nothing to be ashamed of in running from disaster, even by night. It’s better to save one’s skin by running than to be caught.” (Jones, 2003, p. …show more content…
However, in such heroic heart, fear is embedded in every person who has faced the turmoil situation in front of him. Being known as a great warrior among the Greeks, Menelaus is the one to be blamed if he loses Patroclus’ body. What a great shame of him if he makes this mistake, especially when it is being occur in the place where only the winner is honored. Above fearing of the death, this should also be stated that fearing of dishonor is also embedded in his heart due to his role and authority in the