Thetis’ lament is for her soon to be dead son,
Achilles. After Achilles discovers that his best companion, Patroklos, has been
killed in battle, she comes to console him, not only for his grief towards
Patroklos but for hers as well; because the will of Zeus and fate are catching
up to Achilles. When Patroklos dies, Zeus has finished carrying out the honor (τιμή, timē) that he promised to return to Achilles, but Achilles didn’t realize that it
would mean the death of his best friend. The everlasting glory that Achilles
achieves is through the Iliad’s kleos, which begins with the lament of the
fallen hero. Thetis reminds Achilles that if he were to seek the revenge of his
best friend’s death, it would mean his, and so he replies with, “I must die
soon, then; since I was not to stand by my companion when he was killed.”
(Iliad 18: 94-100).
At this moment in the narrative, Achilles’ menis is
dead. By sending Patroklos into battle, disguised
as Achilles, he has sent his menis to go die; now and up to his
death, he will be overtaken by akhos. One of the key traits of a Hero is their
extreme energy, whether that be positive or negative. Before the death of his
companion, all of his energy was focused on Agamemnon, but now it has been shifted
towards Hektor. He knows that after he kills Hektor, he must die. His choice in going after Hektor is in itself his own sacrifice. There is still hope for him to live, but his
sorrow [Αλγος, akhos] will blind him even more than his menis did during the embassy. Because
he refused to accept the “honorable” gifts, he changes the course of fate and
for that, Patroklos has to die.
The act of revenge towards Hektor is led by Achilles’ grief [Αλγος, akhos], which will be exhibited through the most atrocious and violent aristeia in the whole Iliad. The picture that comes to mind, is no longer of a sympathetic individual trying to seek revenge towards a fallen love one, but of some un-godly force that has been unleashed; kind of like the Hulk. His fast and his desire for honor through possessions, all symbolize the rituals that go along with a Hero. More and more through the narrative, he is evolving and filling into this concept, which will inevitably end with his death for his sake and for others.
The act of revenge towards Hektor is led by Achilles’ grief [Αλγος, akhos], which will be exhibited through the most atrocious and violent aristeia in the whole Iliad. The picture that comes to mind, is no longer of a sympathetic individual trying to seek revenge towards a fallen love one, but of some un-godly force that has been unleashed; kind of like the Hulk. His fast and his desire for honor through possessions, all symbolize the rituals that go along with a Hero. More and more through the narrative, he is evolving and filling into this concept, which will inevitably end with his death for his sake and for others.
Comments
Post a Comment