Achilles: Heroism In Homer’s Illiad Essay Examples

Achilles is perhaps one of the most well-known protagonists of human literary history, being the main champion of Homer's The Illiad. Born to the nymph Thesis and the King of Myrmidons, Achilles was dipped in the River Styx as a child in order to grant him immortality. The Illiad focuses on the Trojan War. Achilles is part of the Acheaen army, under the direction of Agamemnon. Although within Greek Mythology, Achilles is seen as an infamous hero, under a modern literary lens, it is difficult to understand the reasons behind their adoration. Within the first few lines of the Illiad itself, Homer makes mention of the menin of Achilles - the unquenchable and irrational rage that was at the level of the Gods. He also places his personal pride over the needs of the collective. When Agamemnon demands Briseis as compensation for his prize in war, Achilles refuses to fight along the Greeks any longer. Furthermore, he prays to the Gods with an appeal to let their enemies, the Trojans, gain territory solely so that he can regain his sense of honor and worth. Due to his hubris (his pride and vast self-interest), his friend Patroclus was killed in battle by the Trojan leader Hector. However, even having taking all of this into account, the Greeks still view Achilles as a hero.
Firstly, Achilles was of royal descent. The ancient Greek lifestyle placed a huge emphasis on family lineage; great respect and veneration was shown to those who held positions of importance and to those who were directly related to them. Ancestor worship even overlapped with hero worship, showing the degree to which the Greeks intertwined it with their lifestyle. Additionally, Achilles was linked to deities from his time of birth - being born of a nymph and a King - his fate being intertwined with the King of Olympus himself, Zeus. All of these factors immediately raised Achilles to a pedestal position, even if he had no other attribute to his name.
Secondly, Achilles had been blessed with superhuman strength. The Ancient Greeks greatly valued physical strength and prowess and had a preoccupation with the perfection of the human body that manifested itself in their art, their poetry and their philosophy. The Iliad is no different in this respect and is witness to the Greek appreciation of strength.
Thirdly, and very importantly, Achilles channeled this superhuman strength into his quest for glory on the battlefield. The Greeks felt very strongly about defending one’s honor, be it individually, for the family, or for the kingdom and The Illiad is nothing short of a long account of the search for honor and glory. The battlefield forms the ideal arena for the public display of loyalty, strength and heroic acts and Achilles was clearly a champion among his men when it came to war and battle.
Finally, throughout his life, Achilles consistently sought out arete – an ancient Greek word that defined the search for excellence, nobility and strength. Achilles’ particular sense of arete , his search for strength and courage, was manifested in his excellence as a warrior. His fate (decided from birth by the Athenian Gods) was also to die in battle at Tory – the ultimate proof of glory and thus, becoming an everlasting symbol of arete.
In conclusion, despite his unrelenting rage, his adamant refusal to fight alongside the Greeks, and his blatant disrespect of Hector’s body, the Greeks saw Achilles as a tragic hero who should be looked up on with respect and reverence. His royal lineage, his strength, his fierce desire for glory and his search for warrior’s excellence lent himself strongly to the Greek value system and firmly established himself as an immortal hero.