Briseis

Futility of War Chinese General and philosopher, Sun Tzu once alleged, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting” (Tzu). The aforementioned quote is an ability that humans have yet to perfect, despite eras of social development. Humankind has fought against themselves for thousands of years and little has come of all the bloodshed and carnage. It can be derived that war has done more harm than good, and thus is an unnecessary figment of human nature. Such theme is evident…

force, which is the sun of the poem, is orbited by rage: Achilles’ incentive that triggers the conflicts of the story. The first instance that introduces the rage of Achilles is found in book one, when Agamemnon sends Talthybius and Eurybates to take Briseis, Achilles’ war prize, away from him. Achilles is so enraged by this that…

The image of heroes has changed numerous times throughout history. The epic hero became popularized by epic poems in which an individual embarked on treacherous quests and illustrated desirable traits through their actions. Recently, the modern hero has gained acceptance. This hero displays courage, selflessness, and does the right thing without need for praise or compensation. In The Iliad by Homer, many heroes arise on the battlefield due to their gallant acts on both sides. However, Hector,…

The unjust act of taking Briseis from Achilles alienates the greatest Achaean warrior from his fellow Achaeans and causes him to pull out of the war. As the Trojans triumph repeatedly, Agamemnon seeks to correct his wrongdoing by sending an embassy to Achilles with a goal of persuading Achilles to return to the battle. G. Mitchell Reyes states that there are “four dominant sources of appeal: honor, material, power, and justice” (23). While Achilles does value honor, material, and power; to…

which results in the Trojan War. In another example, the disagreement between Agamemnon and Achilleus begins over a woman. When Agamemnon is forced to return his war prize, Chryseis, to placate Apollo, he asserts his power over Achilleus by taking Briseis from him. Achilleus becomes furious and withdrawals from battle, refusing to fight for Agamemnon. Achilleus’ absence in the subsequent battle against the Trojans proves to…

argument Agamemnon said this statement:”You may be a good man in a fight, Achilles…Some suitable prize of their own choice, But if it doesn’t, I’ll just go take something myself” in Book I line 140 – 147. Which means that Agamemnon was going to take Briseis from Achilles. Breseis was a given to Achilles as a war prize from an allied city of Troy. Agamemnon wanted to take Achilles prize as a replacement for the priest daughter Chrysies. Achilles pride was hurt by Agamemnon for him taking his…

The golden mean, the celebrated concept inaugurated by Aristotle in his Nicomachean Ethics¸ posits, roughly speaking, that any individual trait or emotion when held in excess or deficiency is a vice, but, when possessed in moderation, ought to be considered a virtue. Is there ever an appropriate time to act upon the emotion of anger? Anger can certainly act as a powerful motivation for human accomplishment and heroism, willing an individual to perform feats he otherwise, in a rational or calmer…

In Book 16 of The Iliad, Patroklos was an Achaean who ended up fighting in Achilleus’ place and ultimately being killed. Patroklos was Achilleus’ best friend — and because of that, Homer did not give much detail into Patroklos himself. Achilleus was the main hero of the Iliad, while Patroklos stood on the sidelines — that is, until he begged Achilleus for his armor so that he could take his place. Eventually, Patroklos angered the gods by killing Sarpedon, and Zeus, with Apollo’s help,…

Book 1: What is the theme expressed in the first line of the poem? What request does Chryses make of Agamemnon? What is the reaction of the Achaeans, also known as the Greeks, the Danaans, and the Argives? What is Agamemnon’s response? Why does Chrses pray to Apollo and what prayer does he make? How does Apollo answer his prayer? What advice does Achilleus give to Agamemnon in the midst of the plague? What does Kalchas fear? What effect will Achilleus’s promise to protect Kalchas have on…

From the very beginning, Achilles has sought any path other than the bloody one laid out for him. When Agamemnon steals Briseis from Achilles, it sparks an idea in him. Achilles promises “my hands will never do battle for that girl, neither with you, King, nor any man alive”, effectively abandoning his position as a soldier (87). Despite this newfound freedom, he still lingers…