The god-like Achilles Essay Example for Free

The graven image-like Achilles EssayIn the Iliad, there were many characters that exhibit god-like or superhuman qualities. hardly one character stood out. He has this god-like strength and superhuman courage to fight and risk his life for his people and altogetheries. He has also been a descendant of the god themselves. And it was no other than Achilles. Achilles was the ace of the famous Trojan War where Helen of Troy is said to be the main rea intelligence for that bloody war. Achilles parents were Peleus and Thetis. Peleus, the king of Myrmidons, was a mortal. Thetis was an immortal sea nymph. From Achilles parents, it can be seen that Achilles belongs to the line of gods. Throughout the epic poem, Achilles portrayed anger which resembles the gods. In the first part of the epic poem, Achilles anger was described. This shows how much revenge he wants to those who have by wrong to him.Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, thatbrought countless ills upon th e Achaeans. Many a brave soul didit send hurrying down to Hades, and many a genius did it yield aprey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Joveful change from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men,and gr beat Achilles, first fell out with one another.(Book 1 Verse 1) Also in Book 1, during the intense argument exchange of Agamemnon and Achilles, Achilles got angry and tried to attack Agamemnon. Achilles rage was uncontrolled and this drives him to attack and tried to execute Agamemnon. This show how prone to anger Achilles was. It is a good thing that Minerva was sent to stop the raging Achilles.It is shown through the following lines in Book 1The son of Peleus was furious, and his heart within his shaggybreast was divided whether to draw his sword, push the othersaside, and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself andcheck his anger. While he was thereof in two minds, and was drawinghis mighty sword from its scabbard, Minerva came down from heavenand seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, visible to himalone, for of the others no man could see her.(Book 1 poetry 19)Achilles overwhelming strength is also described by Agamemnon when he said that That man (Achilles) is worth an entire army,/ the fighter Zeus holds dear with all his heart..(Book 9)Achilles was compared to an entire army which is comm alone described when mortals would battle a god. Gods are like an entire army and is very hard to defeat. His slap-up strength is actually feared by many and so like the gods who are also feared by many mortals.Achilles also showed no mercy when Book 21, Lycaon asked for mercy to spare his life. But the outraged Achilles answeredIdiot, said he, talk not tome of ransom. Until Patroclus fell I preferred to give theTrojans quarter, and sold beyond the sea many of those whom I hadtaken breathing but now not a man shall live of those whom heavendelivers into my hands before the city of Iliusand of allTrojans it shall fare hardest w ith the sons of Priam. Therefore,my friend, you too shall die. (Book 21 verse 6) Achilles rage led him to give no mercy to the devastated Lycaon. This instance shows how fiery Achilles just like the other gods.During Hectors death, he asked Achilles that his body shall be returned to the Trojans. But Achilles refused and said to HectorDog, talk not to me neither of knees nor parents would that I could be as sure of being ableto cut your flesh into pieces and eat it raw, for the ill youhave done me, as I am that nothing shall save you from thedogsit shall not be. (Book 22 Verse 22)Achilles, just like the other gods, showed great pride. Achilles stated that even the wealth of Egypt shall be offered to him, he would no change his decision. This can be seen through the following statements he saidhe may offer me gifts as the sands of the sea or the dust of theplain in multitude, but even so he shall not move me trough I havebeen revenged in full for the bitter wrong he has done me. (B ook 9 verse 20)Achilles was also described to be godlike through symbolisms. One is when he wore his armor in Book 1 and was described to be blazing like the sun. His comparison to the sun was just like that of the god Helios. The brightness of the fire would signify great divinity and power.Another is the manner of the creation of Achilles armor and shield. They were both created by the smith Hepaesthus, the god of fire. The shield was filled and forged with intricate designs suitable for a god and the armor were made indestructible and were also suitable for a god. These items were made special and deserve only the rightful owner and that was the mortal Achilles. This shows that Achilles has god-like qualities that made Hepaesthus create an armor and a shield for him.From the above examples and citations, we can say that among the characters in The Iliad, one mortal stood-out to feature superhuman and god-like qualities such as selfishness, great rage due to anger, and overwhelmi ng pride, and that was Achilles.ReferencesHomer. The Iliad Trans. Robert Fagles Penguin Group, 1990.