In book 9 of The Iliad, the greatest example of heroes, Achilles, questions in mid-way about the heroic code. However, it is just a shattering start for the process in seeking another point of view about what and how to construct a real hero. Through a miserable loss and ability to relate to other characters in the book, finally, Achilles ends up that process with a lesson: Rather than the honor gained in the battle, a hero is also inspired by the connectedness to other people, fighting for the survival of their city, families and companions.<\/p>\n
Achilles\u2019s suspicion about the true value of heroic code brings up a new perspective to the Iliad\u2019s readers, showing them how the heroic world may look from the position outside it. Initially, it seems to make sense that \u201cNothing is worth my life, not all the riches\/ They say Troy held before the Greeks came,\u201d (9.415-16) Achilles said, when he has plenty of possession, and those honor-conferring material gifts are not a worth-while compensation for the loss of his life on the battle. Also, it is hard to object when he criticizes the pointlessness of the heroic system: \u201cCoward and hero get the same reward:\/You die whether you slack off or work.\u201d (9.326-27) However, those arguments are only subjective and associated with blindness. The speech of Phoenix, one of the ambassadors and Achilles\u2019 beloved old tutor, fully answers Achilles\u2019 concern and points out what Achilles cannot see. He tells the story of Meleager, a man who was wronged and refused to defend his country. He retired in his room with his beloved wife and stayed out of the fighting until the moment when his city was about to be destroyed. He realized that his wife\u2019s safety could be threatened if his country lost in the war. Therefore, he returned to battle and fought for his city, but at that point Meleager just won little honor. Phoenix\u2019s story responds to Achilles\u2019 accusation that gifts are inadequate compensation for fighting by showing that there are still other reasons besides honor why people lose their lives for fighting. That is because of their family, their close friends, and any bonds of friendship in a small community. At this point, the family concept and the interrelation between individuals become revealing as an integral aspect of heroic code. This idea slowly develops in further Book through Achilles\u2019 relationship to others on a personal basis.<\/p>\n
It is only after Patroclus\u2019 death that Achilles realizes what is missing in his previous accusation, which also highlights those above newfound perspectives of human connectedness. A hero, of course, must fulfill his status in combat on the battlefield, to get honored for himself; besides, it is stressed that he has to respect his family, show loyalty to his friends, and protect his comrades. Achilles learns this precious lesson after a miserable loss: \u201cA mist black grief enveloped Achilles\/He scooped up fistfuls of sunburnt dust\/And poured it on his head, fouling\/His beautiful face \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u201d (18.23-26) The word \u201cenvelope\u201d is used sophisticatedly as, like a letter is covered underneath another thick paper, Achilles gets stuck in a confusing thinking stream about if his own honor is an ultimate purpose he is seeking for throughout all his lie, or his close relationship with companions matters more to his true heroic value. He gets lost. He conflicts with himself. The image of self-willed man with strong accusation at the beginning disappears; instead, that man is acting unconsciously: \u201cHe scooped up fistfuls of sunburnt dust\/And poured it on his head, fouling\/His beautiful face \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u201d (18.24-26) \u201cBeautiful face\u201d is a nice metaphor for the image of an ideal hero which Achilles mistakenly overvalues for himself, and \u201cdust\u201d can be understood as the force for Achilles to break against that monument and reach the underneath true heroic code. Now, Achilles begins to see life and relationships with other people from a mortal point of view. Patroclus\u2019s death is a strong reminder of those other reasons for fighting that Achilles forgets in his initial undermining of honor. In a material human world, heroes may treasure the reward and social status as a consequence of winning the fighting, but they are also motivated by the patriotism for the city they protect and by the love for family and friend they deeply involve.<\/p>\n
Family and deep bond of friendship also take part in constructing the moral aspect in a real hero\u2019s character. This excites the readers profoundly besides many bloody brutal killing scenes throughout the book. In the scene Priam takes ransom to demand Hector\u2019s corpse back for a proper burial, the readers can witness a new side in Achilles\u2019 behavior that never plays out before: full of sincere kindness and sympathy. Compared with the intense savagery when Achilles cruelly drags Hector\u2019s corpse around the walls of Troy, this move entirely surprises the readers. \u201cPriam huddled in grief at Achilles\u2019 feet, cried\/ And moaned softly for his man-slaying Hector.\u201d (24.547-49) Homer uses the verb \u201chuddle\u201d, somehow in contrast with high status of Priam, a king, to demonstrate that death is no barrier to the honor and glory achieved in life. Priam\u2019s begging does not dishonor him; instead, he does that in the name of his family member. This action truly captures Achilles\u2019 pity and breaks down his resistance. Achilles knows that his fate is to die at Troy and never return home in Phthia. He realizes how desperate his father, Peleus, feels once he knows that heart-breaking news of his son, which might happens to Priam if Achilles does not return Hector\u2019s corpse to him. \u201cAnd Achilles cried for this father and\/ For Patroclus. The sound filled the room.\u201d (24.550-51) Just only any object that is visible and have weight can fill up a space, but Homer uses that verb for \u201cthe sound\u201d to show that, this time, Achilles\u2019 tear has value because he already learns his mistake in self-absorption and changes himself to care for other people\u2019s feelings. Finally, he reaches to his identity as a mortal, letting go of his previous bitter outrage, and sharing the grief of loss with other mortals. Generosity, or forgiveness, also constructs a real hero. This is a precious lesson that Achilles learns till the end.<\/p>\n
The Iliad, set aside all of the brutal killing scenes, is a work deeply concerned with the true value of heroic system. Specifically, the questioning of Achilles in Book 9 brings up a new insight for the Iliad\u2019s readers. The hero\u2019s brilliant performance in the battlefield is fundamental to maintain his status. Furthermore, he had to fulfill his responsibility in accordance with his family, friends, and community in general.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In book 9 of The Iliad, the greatest example of heroes, Achilles, questions in mid-way about the heroic code. However, it is just a shattering start for the process in seeking another point of view about what and how to construct a real hero.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-essaysenglish-literature"],"yoast_head":"\n