Introduction
One of my favorite characters in Homer’s poem “Iliad” is Achilles, who is portrayed as a physically invulnerable person, yet he is the one who displays the widest range of emotions. The most notable moment illustrating this idea is from Book XVIII, where he is presented with the news of Patroclus’ death. This event leads to the character’s lament, which his mother hears. This shows how the theme of grief is a big part of any war, and the loss of a close friend may affect even the strongest people.
Achilles’ Grief
Achilles is portrayed as an unbeatable hero granted with the blessing of invulnerability. Book XVIII also describes his newly wielded shield, featuring “the image one of peace, and one of war.” (Homer, Iliad. Book XVIII, line 479). This image corresponds directly to the duality that the reader can see in Iliad. It also shows the changes that Achilles experiences after the death of his closest friend and may symbolize the instability of human life. The scene is exceptionally powerful, considering the character’s immunity to battle wounds. This makes the shield a great metaphor for Achilles’ emotional state at the time.
Thetis’ Grief
The other character who represents the idea of grief is Achilles’ mother, Thetis. She knows this loss will lead her son to death in combat with Patroclus. The latter is also described in Book XVIII as a great and furious combatant. “And like a flame through fields of ripen’d corn, / The rage of Hector o’er the ranks was borne.”, as Homer describes it with a simile (Homer, Iliad. Book XVIII, lines 191-192). Therefore, Thetis’ perspective adds to the description of Achilles’ grief and the story of his imminent fate.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Book XVIII of Homer’s Iliad is a masterful analysis of Achilles’ personality. This brave warrior who constantly faces death is shown to be broken by losing his closest companion. This is emphasized by the events in the following Books and his mother’s knowledge of Achilles’ destiny. Thus, this is an excellent example of Homer’s character development and poetic description talents and features a topic that will always be relevant when discussing war and its consequences.
Reference
Homer. (2023). Iliad. Book XVIII [eBook edition]. Project Gutenberg.
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