The person01–03
01·Who they are
Who is Achilles?
Achilles appears at the very beginning of the Iliad, not through his actions but through his emotions: "the anger of Achilles son of Peleus." He stands out as the premier warrior among the Achaeans—so much so that even the Trojans recognize him, fearing the son of Tydeus in the moment but still referring to Achilles as the standard of excellence ("we did not fear even their great champion Achilles, son of a goddess though he be"). His ships are positioned at one end of the Achaean line, a place of honor that sets him apart. He commands fifty ships and five units of Myrmidons, wielding a spear from Mount Pelion that no other mortal can lift.
02·Arc & motivation
What is Achilles's arc and motivation?
Achilles' journey is driven by a profound sense of wounded honor and love. His conflict with Agamemnon isn't merely about a woman; it's about public recognition of his worth—"one of my own rank should dare to rob me because he is more powerful than I am." When he withdraws, it’s his way of refusing to fight for those who have disrespected him, and he asks Zeus to punish the Achaeans on his behalf. His motivation only shifts when the war reaches his ships, and more importantly, when Patroclus approaches him in tears. Even then, he doesn’t join the battle himself; instead, he sends Patroclus as a substitute, still concerned about his own reputation. After Patroclus dies, his personal grief takes precedence over wounded pride, transforming revenge into his sole focus.
03·Key moments
What are Achilles's key moments?
- Book I: The confrontation with Agamemnon and his subsequent withdrawal from battle set the stage for the entire epic; Achilles calls on Thetis to seek Zeus's assistance.
- Book XVI: Patroclus comes to Achilles in tears, moving him but not entirely freeing him from his grievance. He gives Patroclus his armor with strict orders not to advance to Troy, prays to Zeus for Patroclus's safety, and watches from the shore as flames consume the ships—this moment nudges him towards partial forgiveness.
- Book XX: Achilles returns to battle, eager for it, with the Achaeans arming around him.
- Book XXIII: Achilles leads the Myrmidons in mourning for Patroclus, circling his body with their chariots three times; he places his "blood-stained hand on the breast of his friend," vows to drag Hector's corpse and sacrifice twelve Trojans, and immediately shows contempt for Hector's body next to Patroclus's bier.
The cast04–05
04·Relationships
What are Achilles's most important relationships?
Achilles' bond with Patroclus serves as the emotional core of his journey. He reacts to Patroclus's tears with a mix of gentle teasing and genuine concern, and his instructions before sending him out reveal both affection and self-interest—he wants to save the ships but also to uphold his own glory. The grief that follows Patroclus's death is overwhelming and visceral: blood-stained hands on his friend's chest, tears soaking the shore. His relationship with Agamemnon is marked by mutual need tainted by pride; Achilles understands that the Achaeans rely on him, which intensifies the sting of the insult. With Thetis, we see a more vulnerable side of him; he turns to her as a son seeking a mother's support. His connection with Zeus involves both indirect mediation through Thetis and direct communication—he prays to Zeus from his own courtyard before the battle in Book XVI.
05·Connected characters
How is Achilles connected to the other characters?
Agamemnon
Patroclus
Full commentary
Patroclus is Achilles' comrade; it is Patroclus who weeps when he comes to Achilles, and Achilles who is sorry for him. Achilles allows Patroclus to wear his armour and lead the Myrmidons into battle. After Patroclus's death, Achilles leads the Myrmidons in mourning, driving their chariots three times round the body, and vows over it to drag Hector's body and slay twelve noble sons of Trojans to avenge him.
Thetis
Zeus
Hector
The evidence06
06·Key quotes
What are Achilles’s key quotes?
“My mother Thetis tells me that there are two ways in which I may meet my end. If I stay here and fight, I shall not return alive but my name will live for ever: whereas if I go home my name will die, but it will be long ere death shall take me.”
Achilles · Book IX
Why it matters
Achilles delivers these lines in Book IX when Ulysses, Phoenix, and Ajax visit his tent to present Agamemnon's gifts and plead for his return to battle. This moment is crucial in the poem because Achilles lays bare the choice that shapes his destiny: he can choose a brief life filled with glory at Troy or a long, unnoticed life back home. His mother, Thetis, has made it clear that each path is open to him. By turning down Agamemnon's offer but choosing not to sail home right away, Achilles shows that neither option truly fulfills him — he seeks to have his honor reinstated on his own terms. His speech illustrates that his conflict goes beyond just Briseis; it's about the very essence of what it means to be a hero.
“I will not live nor go about among mankind unless Hector fall by my spear, and thus pay me for having slain Patroclus son of Menoetius.”
Achilles · to Thetis · Book XVIII
Why it matters
Achilles utters these lines in Book XVIII right after he learns about Patroclus’s death. His sorrow quickly turns into a vow for revenge, with his continued existence hinging on killing Hector. This moment signifies a shift in Achilles' anger: it's no longer aimed at Agamemnon for matters of honor and prizes, but instead focuses on Hector, the one responsible for the loss of his closest companion. Thetis has already warned Achilles that he will die shortly after Hector, making this vow a death sentence he effectively imposes on himself. His acceptance of this fate adds a tragic grandeur to his return to battle, a stark contrast to his earlier brooding.
“on the floor of Jove’s palace there stand two urns, the one filled with evil gifts, and the other with good ones.”
Achilles · to Priam · Book XXIV
Why it matters
Achilles shares these thoughts during a poignant meeting with Priam in Book XXIV, using the metaphor of two urns on Jove's floor—one containing evil gifts and the other good—to illustrate the nature of human suffering. He initially applies this metaphor to Priam and then to his own father, Peleus, who experienced mostly good fortune but faces the heartbreak of losing his only son to an early death at Troy. This speech stands out because it reveals Achilles moving beyond his personal sorrow to acknowledge a universal truth: every mortal endures a blend of joy and grief, with the gods distributing both without any rationale. Coming from the poem's most fearsome warrior, this philosophical acceptance of fate highlights how much Achilles has evolved emotionally since his explosive conflict with Agamemnon at the story's start.
Study07–08
07·Questions
Questions readers ask about Achilles
Why does Achilles withdraw from the war?
Agamemnon takes the girl that Achilles had claimed as a prize from battle, and Achilles sees this as a public insult by someone relying on brute strength rather than true worth. He vows not to fight for men who have disrespected him and asks his mother, Thetis, to convince Zeus to let the Trojans win, hoping that the Achaeans will understand the impact of his absence.
What is the significance of Achilles' anger to the whole poem?
The opening lines clearly state that his anger "brought countless ills upon the Achaeans," leading heroes to Hades and leaving their bodies for dogs and vultures. The poem presents his anger as the main reason for Achaean suffering during the war, with the gods themselves orchestrating events around it.
Why does Achilles send Patroclus to fight instead of going himself?
Achilles feels a surge of emotion at Patroclus's tears and the flames threatening the ships, but he still can't let go of his anger towards Agamemnon. By sending Patroclus into battle wearing his armor, the Trojans are pushed back, believing Patroclus is Achilles, while Achilles maintains both his stance and his reputation.
What instructions does Achilles give Patroclus before the battle?
He instructs Patroclus to push the Trojans away from the ships and come back right away, cautioning him not to advance toward Troy in case a god strikes him, and not to seek so much glory that he takes away from what Achilles deserves.
How does Achilles react to Patroclus's death?
He leads the Myrmidons in their mourning, guiding their chariots three times around Patroclus's body while Thetis deepens their sorrow. He rests his bloodied hand on Patroclus's chest, vows to drag Hector's body through the dirt, and pledges to sacrifice twelve noble Trojans at the funeral pyre.
What role does Zeus play in relation to Achilles?
Zeus agrees to honor Achilles by allowing the Trojans to succeed while he is away, keeping a promise made when Thetis pleaded with him. When Achilles prays to Zeus before sending Patroclus into battle, Zeus grants part of his request—that Patroclus will push the Trojans back—but declines to ensure his safe return.
How do other characters measure themselves against Achilles?
Achilles is the standard of Achaean excellence throughout the poem. Agamemnon tells Menelaus that even Achilles "shrank from meeting" Hector in battle, and the Trojans in Book VI recognize him as a great champion, even while they fear Diomed more at that moment. In Book XIII, Idomeneus says Ajax "would not yield even to Achilles in hand-to-hand fight."
08·Essay angles
Use this in your essay
Tool · Essay angles
Anger as a structural force
Honor versus glory
Surrogate and self
Grief as transformation
Divine favor and human agency