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Achilles Flaws

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Achilles, the main character of Homer’s epic The Iliad evolved throughout the epic in many ways. The story helps Achilles development as a person. In the beginning of the epic we see Achilles with many flaws and by the end of the epic we see him move past from his flaws and see him overcome them. In the first book of the epic titled “Rage of Achilles”, Achilles the main character of the epic, whom is the prime and best warrior for the Greek is found in a huge rage. Agamemnon, king of the Achaean army claims Chryseis as his war prize and Achilles claims Briseis has his prize. Chryseis’ father Chryses begs Agamemnon to return his daughter. Following, Agamemnon refuses to do so and Chryses pays the god Apollo to send a plague to the Greek camp …show more content…

Achilles agrees to allow Patroclus to wear his armor only if he fights long enough to save the ships. Once Patroclus went out to fight in Achilles’ armor, Patroclus kills every Trojan he comes up to. After Patroclus slaughtering many Trojan’s, he comes upon Hector and Hector kills him immediately. When Achilles finds out that Patroclus was killed, he is very upset. He was heard to have let out a “Terrible wrenching cry” (18.39). Achilles being in such a rage about Hector killing Patroclus, he doesn’t care about getting his girl back from Agamemnon, all he cares about is taking down the Trojans and killing all of them. Achilles is officially back into the war. Achilles’ behavior of these events were very appropriate. Of course he was mad because Hector killed Patroclus and took his armor. More importantly he pushed aside the drama with Agamemnon about Briseis, and comes back to the war. This shows that Achilles’ always cared about the Achaeans but he wanted to be petty and make a big deal out of all of it before he came back. Following Achilles returning to the war, he has men clean Patroclus’ body and will not bury him until he kills Hector. Agamemnon and Achilles reconcile at the assembly. Agamemnon feels bad for Achilles so he agrees to give Briseis back to him. Towards the end of the epic, Achilles kills Hector and ties his body to the back of his chariot and drags

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