6.2 The wrath of Achilles and its consequences

Achilles' wrath shapes the Iliad's plot. His anger at Agamemnon leads to withdrawal from battle, causing Greek losses. The death of his friend Patroclus reignites Achilles' fury, driving him to seek revenge against Hector and the Trojans.

Achilles' actions have far-reaching consequences. His absence weakens the Greek army, while his return brings devastating carnage. The cycle of vengeance culminates in Hector's death and desecration, ultimately resolved through a moment of shared grief with Priam.

Achilles' Anger and Withdrawal

Agamemnon's Insult and Achilles' Reaction

Top images from around the web for Agamemnon's Insult and Achilles' Reaction

• 

  Ахилл — Википедия View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Achilles - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Trojan War - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Ахилл — Википедия View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Achilles - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Agamemnon's Insult and Achilles' Reaction

• 

  Ахилл — Википедия View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Achilles - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Trojan War - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Ахилл — Википедия View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Achilles - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Agamemnon demands Briseis, Achilles' war prize, after having to return his own prize Chryseis to her father
• Achilles feels deeply dishonored and disrespected by Agamemnon's actions
• In a fit of rage, Achilles withdraws from the war effort and refuses to fight for the Greeks
• Achilles asks his mother Thetis, a sea nymph, to persuade Zeus to turn the tide of the war against the Greeks (Achaeans) as retribution for the offense against him

Impact of Achilles' Absence on the Greek Army

• Without their greatest warrior Achilles, the Greeks suffer heavy losses in battle against the Trojans
• Hector and the Trojans push the Greeks back to their ships, threatening to burn them
• Many Greek heroes are wounded or killed in the fierce fighting, including Diomedes, Odysseus, and Agamemnon
• The Greeks build fortifications around their ships for protection, but morale is low without Achilles' prowess on the battlefield

Divine Intervention and Attempts at Reconciliation

• Agamemnon sends an embassy to Achilles, offering gifts and the return of Briseis, but Achilles stubbornly refuses the overture
• Gods like Hera, Athena, and Poseidon intervene on behalf of the Greeks at various points to prevent their total defeat
• Zeus remains committed to his promise to Thetis and allows the Trojans to gain the upper hand while Achilles sits out the fighting
• Patroclus, Achilles' beloved companion, convinces Achilles to let him lead the Myrmidons into battle wearing Achilles' armor to bolster the demoralized Greeks

Patroclus and Hector

The Death of Patroclus

• Patroclus charges into battle, pushing the Trojans back from the Greek ships and slaying many Trojan warriors
• Hector, mistaking Patroclus for Achilles due to the armor, engages him in single combat
• With Apollo's help, Hector gets the better of Patroclus, wounding him and then killing him with a spear thrust
• Hector strips the armor from Patroclus' body, a sacrilege in Greek culture, and the Greeks and Trojans fight fiercely over the corpse

Achilles' Grief and Rage

• Upon learning of Patroclus' death, Achilles is consumed by grief and guilt for not protecting his friend
• Thetis comforts her son and has Hephaestus, the divine smith, forge new armor for Achilles to wear into battle
• Filled with rage and determined to avenge Patroclus, Achilles reconciles with Agamemnon and rejoins the fighting
• Achilles cuts a bloody path through the Trojan forces, slaughtering many and driving them back to the walls of Troy in his fury

The Slaying of Hector and Desecration of his Body

• Achilles confronts Hector outside the walls of Troy, and the two engage in a fierce duel
• Despite knowing his fate, Hector fights bravely but is ultimately no match for Achilles' skill and wrathful determination
• Achilles kills Hector with a spear thrust, then dishonors his corpse by tying it to his chariot and dragging it around the city walls
• For days, Achilles continues to abuse Hector's body, refusing to give it proper burial rites and leaving it to be scavenged by dogs and birds

Consequences and Resolution

The Cycle of Vengeance

• Achilles' actions perpetuate a destructive cycle of vengeance and retribution that defines much of the Iliad
• His rage and grief over Patroclus lead him to commit atrocities against Hector's body, disrespecting cultural norms and angering the gods
• The gods, particularly Apollo, are outraged by Achilles' treatment of Hector's corpse and demand that he return the body to Priam for proper burial
• Achilles' wrath and the resulting carnage reflect the grim realities and costs of war, even for the victors

Reconciliation and the Return of Hector's Body

• Priam, guided by Hermes, sneaks into the Greek camp and appeals to Achilles to return Hector's body for proper funeral rites
• In a poignant moment of shared humanity and grief, Achilles is moved by Priam's pleas and agrees to return the body
• This act of compassion and reconciliation shows a glimmer of hope amidst the brutality of war
• The Iliad ends with Hector's funeral, a somber reminder of the toll the war has taken on both sides and the importance of honoring the dead